Dueling Results in Presidential Election Leave Iran in Tumult
By FARNAZ FASSIHI
WSJ
TEHRAN -- Iran was thrown into confusion when the state-run news agency declared President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner in Friday's polls as his main challenger alleged fraud and claimed victory by a large margin.
The dueling claims ratcheted up the stakes in the already-tense elections, the most rambunctious since the founding of the Islamic Republic thirty years ago. A prolonged political standoff would heighten the uncertainty hanging over a country that is one of the world's biggest oil producers and Washington's main irritant in the volatile Middle East.
Despite the official announcement of Mr. Ahmadinejad's victory, Iran's Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say in all matters of state, hadn't weighed in on the results. Iran's interior ministry, the official tabulator, said Mr.Ahmadinejad was leading but not all ballots were counted and final results would be announced Saturday morning.
Challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi said he had won by a large margin in what he called an "emergency" news conference in Tehran. He also complained of voting irregularities, including the rigging of votes and deliberate attempts by the government to block people from casting ballots.
(More here.)
WSJ
TEHRAN -- Iran was thrown into confusion when the state-run news agency declared President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner in Friday's polls as his main challenger alleged fraud and claimed victory by a large margin.
The dueling claims ratcheted up the stakes in the already-tense elections, the most rambunctious since the founding of the Islamic Republic thirty years ago. A prolonged political standoff would heighten the uncertainty hanging over a country that is one of the world's biggest oil producers and Washington's main irritant in the volatile Middle East.
Despite the official announcement of Mr. Ahmadinejad's victory, Iran's Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say in all matters of state, hadn't weighed in on the results. Iran's interior ministry, the official tabulator, said Mr.Ahmadinejad was leading but not all ballots were counted and final results would be announced Saturday morning.
Challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi said he had won by a large margin in what he called an "emergency" news conference in Tehran. He also complained of voting irregularities, including the rigging of votes and deliberate attempts by the government to block people from casting ballots.
(More here.)
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