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Khatami 'to abandon' Iranian race Khatami pulls out of Iranian race
(about 8 hours later)
Iran's former president Mohammad Khatami is to withdraw his candidacy from the country's June presidential election, the BBC understands. Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has officially announced his withdrawal from the country's presidential election in June.
Mr Khatami was president of Iran from 1997-2005 and was succeeded by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a conservative. In a statement, he said he would pull out in order not to split the reformist vote. Two other pro-reform candidates are also in the running.
Mr Ahmadinejad is expected to stand for re-election. Mr Khatami was president of Iran from 1997-2005 and was succeeded by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a hard-line conservative.
Mr Khatami's apparent decision to withdraw leaves Mr Ahmadinejad in a stronger position, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran. Mr Ahmadinejad is widely expected to stand for re-election.
MOHAMMAD KHATAMI Served as Iranian president from 1997-2005 Born 1943, the son of a respected ayatollah in Yazd ProvinceRegarded as a reformist class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/3027382.stm">Profile: Mohammad Khatami Despite heavy criticism of his management of the economy, among other things, Mr Ahmadinejad could well win another four years in power, our correspondent says. It was not immediately clear if Mr Khatami meant to endorse one of the other candidates.
Mr Khatami was the most liberal president since the revolution. Early reports that he was quitting the race suggested he would back former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi.
But he entered this campaign reluctantly and unenthusiastically, adds our correspondent, and it soon became clear that many of those in power in Iran did not want him to return as president. One city prevented Mr Khatami from campaigning with the excuse that it would cause traffic jams. Boost for Ahmadinejad
His withdrawal therefore comes as no surprise, says our correspondent, and Mr Khatami is now expected to endorse former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi. "I announce my withdrawal from the 10th presidential election," Mr Khatami said in a statement released after a late-evening meeting with his supporters and campaign officials.Mir Hossein Mousavi served as PM during the war with Iraq
Mr Mousavi held office between 1980 and 1988. He is also a member of Iran's Expediency Council which is the country's top political arbitration body. He called for a "free and fair election".
The candidacy of more than one reformist may split voters opposed to Mr Ahmadinejad. His withdrawal leaves Mr Ahmadinejad in a stronger position despite heavy criticism of his management of the economy, the BBC's Jon Leyne reports from Tehran.
In this 30th anniversary year of the revolution, June's election will give Iranians a stark choice over the future of the Islamic Republic. Mr Khatami was the country's most liberal president since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
But he entered this campaign reluctantly and unenthusiastically, adds our correspondent, and it soon became clear that many of those in power in Iran did not want him to return as president.
One city prevented him from campaigning with the excuse that it would cause traffic jams.
One of his rivals, Mr Mousavi, held office between 1980 and 1988. He is also a member of Iran's Expediency Council, which is the country's top political arbitration body.
The other pro-reform candidate in the race is Mahdi Karroubi, a former parliamentary speaker.