Ahmadinejad poised to win reelection in Iran

The Iranian president has two-thirds of the votes with 75% of ballots counted. His rival Mir-Hossein Mousavi alleges irregularities, saying he has won the election.

By Borzou Daragahi and Ramin Mostaghim
LA Times
June 13, 2009

Reporting from Tehran — President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad holds a decisive lead in his reelection bid, Iran's Interior Ministry said this morning, while his main rival claimed victory and alleged election irregularities.

Ministry officials said that with more than 75% of ballots counted, the incumbent had received nearly two-thirds of the vote. More than 46 million people were eligible to vote, officials said.

Official results are expected today, but news outlets loyal to the president claimed that he had scored a decisive victory over moderate Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who had received about a third of the votes counted. This morning, security forces shut down Mousavi's offices, his campaign said.

The election is expected to have broad domestic and international repercussions, as the Islamic Republic and the West remain at odds over Tehran's nuclear program and support for militant groups that oppose Israel. The results were being closely watched by officials in capitals around the world.

(More here.)