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Ahmadinejad 'wins Iran presidential vote' Ahmadinejad 'wins Iran presidential vote'
(40 minutes later)
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been re-elected as president of Iran with a resounding victory, the country's electoral commission says. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been re-elected as president of Iran with a resounding victory, the electoral commission says.
With more than 80% of results in, the commission said he won 64% support in an election marked by high turnout.With more than 80% of results in, the commission said he won 64% support in an election marked by high turnout.
His main rival, reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi, also claimed victory, calling the result a "dangerous charade". Reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi also claimed victory, calling the result a "dangerous charade", as supporters vowed to appeal for a re-run.
Police have sealed off Mr Mousavi's campaign HQ, preventing his supporters from holding a news conference.Police have sealed off Mr Mousavi's campaign HQ, preventing his supporters from holding a news conference.
Mr Mousavi was hoping to prevent Mr Ahmadinejad winning more than 50% of the vote, in order to force as run-off election. Mr Mousavi was hoping to prevent Mr Ahmadinejad winning more than 50% of the vote, in order to force a run-off election.
However, the Iranian election commission said Mr Mousavi's share of the vote was around 32%.However, the Iranian election commission said Mr Mousavi's share of the vote was around 32%.
Earlier, the state news agency Irna declared Mr Ahmadinejad the "definite winner", and his campaign manager was quoted as saying "any doubts cast on this victory will be treated as a joke by the public".Earlier, the state news agency Irna declared Mr Ahmadinejad the "definite winner", and his campaign manager was quoted as saying "any doubts cast on this victory will be treated as a joke by the public".
Opposition confidence Danger of 'tyranny'
The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Tehran, said police moved to prevent protests on the streets on Saturday, with few signs of celebration from Mr Ahmadinejad's supporters and heavy security around Mr Mousavi's campaign headquarters. Mr Mousavi issued a statement shortly after 1300 local time (0930 GMT) on Saturday, after the scale of the hardline president's victory became clear.
There were reports that a rally for Mr Mousavi was broken up. The former prime minister dismissed the election result as deeply flawed.
Police increased security on polling day to try to head off trouble from supporters of the losing candidates and all gatherings have been banned until the official results have been published. "I personally strongly protest the many obvious violations and I'm warning I will not surrender to this dangerous charade," the Reuters news agency reported him as saying.
This election brought hope to millions of people that they could change the direction of the country through the ballot box, and those people are going to be deeply disappointed Sadeq SabaBBC Iranian affairs analyst IRANIAN ELECTION Voting age 18 years; electorate of 42.5m peoplePresident to serve maximum of two consecutive four-year terms (or three non-consecutive)Election won by absolute majoritySecond round held between top two if no candidate wins majority class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/8093366.stm">Power of women in Iran's election class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/8098424.stm">Poll passion in US class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6578&edition=1&ttl=20090611114912">Read your comments
"The result of such performance by some officials will jeopardise the pillars of the Islamic Republic and will establish tyranny."
Mr Mousavi has already said there was a shortage of ballot papers and alleged that millions of people had been denied the right to vote.
His election monitors were not allowed enough access to polling stations, he added, saying he would deal seriously with any irregularities.
The head of the Committee to Protect the People's Votes, a group set up by all three opposition candidates, said the group does not accept the result, alleging fraud.
They have asked Iran's Guardian Council - a powerful body controlled by conservative clerics - to cancel the results and re-run the elections.
The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Tehran, says the result has been greeted with surprise and with deep scepticism by many Iranians.
The figures, if they are to be believed, show Mr Ahmedinejad winning strongly even in the heartland of Mr Mousavi, the main opposition contender.
The scale of Mr Ahmadinejad's win means that many people who voted for a reformist candidate in the previous presidential election four years ago have apparently switched their votes to Mr Ahmadinejad, he adds.
Police presence
Although there were few signs of organised dissent on the streets, police in Tehran moved to prevent protests on Saturday.
There was heavy security around Mr Mousavi's campaign headquarters and reports that at least one rally for Mr Mousavi was broken up by police using truncheons against small groups of people.
The AFP news agency said police dispersed opposition supporters on Saturday morning, quoting a senior police official as saying: "The time of dancing and shouting is over."The AFP news agency said police dispersed opposition supporters on Saturday morning, quoting a senior police official as saying: "The time of dancing and shouting is over."
Most of those backing Mr Mousavi were waiting to hear from their candidate before deciding whether to take to the streets and protest. Mr Mousavi has scheduled a news conference for Saturday morning.
One opposition supporter who gave her name as Shirin, told the BBC she still had confidence Mr Mousavi would become president.One opposition supporter who gave her name as Shirin, told the BBC she still had confidence Mr Mousavi would become president.
"But he advised us, the supporters, not to do anything harsh or trying to... clash with Ahmadinejad's supporters," she said."But he advised us, the supporters, not to do anything harsh or trying to... clash with Ahmadinejad's supporters," she said.
Our correspondent says Mr Mousavi's next move is extremely important, as will be the reaction of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Our correspondent says the reaction of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be extremely important.
Mr Mousavi has already said there was a shortage of ballot papers and alleged that millions of people had been denied the right to vote. BBC Iranian affairs analyst Sadeq Saba says the result means that hope for peaceful reform in Iran may die for a long time.
His election monitors were not allowed enough access to polling stations, he added, saying he would deal seriously with any irregularities.
Rival claims
BBC Iranian affairs analyst Sadeq Saba says nobody expected the margin of Mr Ahmadinejad's apparent victory to be so big.
He says supporters of Mr Mousavi have expressed shock and disbelief.
IRANIAN ELECTION Voting age 18 years; electorate of 42.5m peoplePresident to serve maximum of two consecutive four-year terms (or three non-consecutive)Election won by absolute majoritySecond round held between top two if no candidate wins majority Power of women in Iran's election Poll passion in US Read your comments
Overall, he adds, a victory for Mr Ahmadinejad would mean no significant change in Iran's foreign and domestic policy.
However, this election brought hope to millions of people that they could change the direction of the country through the ballot box, and those people are going to be deeply disappointed, our correspondent says.
The hope for peaceful reform in Iran may die for a long time to come, he adds.
Shortly after polling ended, both Mr Ahmadinejad and Mr Mousavi had declared victory.
But as the results began to come in, Iranian TV began putting out calls for calm. One opposition newspaper has been closed down and BBC websites appear to have been blocked by the Iranian authorities.
Large turnoutLarge turnout
There had been a surge of interest in Iran's presidential election, with unprecedented live television debates between the candidates and rallies attended by thousands.There had been a surge of interest in Iran's presidential election, with unprecedented live television debates between the candidates and rallies attended by thousands.
Mr Mousavi has alleged widespread electoral fraudMr Mousavi has alleged widespread electoral fraud
There were long queues of voters at polling stations, and election officials said the turnout was possibly higher than 80%. There were long queues at polling stations, with turnout said to be higher than 80%.
Four candidates contested the election, with Mohsen Razai and Mehdi Karroubi only registering a small percentage of votes.Four candidates contested the election, with Mohsen Razai and Mehdi Karroubi only registering a small percentage of votes.
President Ahmadinejad draws support mainly from the urban poor and rural areas, while his rivals have support among the middle classes and the educated urban population.President Ahmadinejad draws support mainly from the urban poor and rural areas, while his rivals have support among the middle classes and the educated urban population.
Iran is ruled under a system known as Velayat-e Faqih, or "Rule by the Supreme Jurist", who is currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Iran is ruled under a system known as Velayat-e Faqih, or "Rule by the Supreme Jurist", who is currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
It was adopted by an overwhelming majority in 1979 following the Islamic revolution which overthrew the autocratic Western-backed Shah.It was adopted by an overwhelming majority in 1979 following the Islamic revolution which overthrew the autocratic Western-backed Shah.
But the constitution also stipulates that the people are the source of power and the country holds phased presidential and parliamentary elections every four years.But the constitution also stipulates that the people are the source of power and the country holds phased presidential and parliamentary elections every four years.
All candidates are vetted by the powerful conservative-controlled Guardian Council, which also has the power to veto legislation it deems inconsistent with revolutionary principles.All candidates are vetted by the powerful conservative-controlled Guardian Council, which also has the power to veto legislation it deems inconsistent with revolutionary principles.
What do think of the election results so far? How important are the elections for Iran's future? You can send us your views using the form below:What do think of the election results so far? How important are the elections for Iran's future? You can send us your views using the form below:
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