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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Iran awaits presidential election result | Iran awaits presidential election result |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Iranians are waiting for the results from Friday's presidential election, with early counts showing a clear lead for the reformist-linked candidate. | |
| Hassan Rouhani has spoken about the need to re-engage with the West and has promised to free political prisoners. | |
| Mr Rouhani had garnered about 45% of the votes after after almost two million ballots had been counted, | |
| Some 50 million Iranians were eligible to vote to decide a successor to outgoing leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad | |
| His eight years in power have been characterised by economic turmoil and Western sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear programme. | His eight years in power have been characterised by economic turmoil and Western sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear programme. |
| The count was slightly delayed after officials pushed back polling station closing times by five hours. | |
| Although all six candidates are seen as conservatives, analysts say Mr Rouhani has been reaching out to reformists in recent days. | |
| The surge of support for him came after Mohammad Reza Aref, the only reformist candidate in the race, announced on Tuesday that he was withdrawing on the advice of pro-reform ex-President Mohammad Khatami. | The surge of support for him came after Mohammad Reza Aref, the only reformist candidate in the race, announced on Tuesday that he was withdrawing on the advice of pro-reform ex-President Mohammad Khatami. |
| Mr Rouhani now has the endorsement of two ex-presidents - Mr Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani - who was disqualified from the race by the powerful Guardian Council. | Mr Rouhani now has the endorsement of two ex-presidents - Mr Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani - who was disqualified from the race by the powerful Guardian Council. |
| However, Mr Rouhani faces a tough challenge from hardline candidates, including top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and Tehran's mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. | However, Mr Rouhani faces a tough challenge from hardline candidates, including top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and Tehran's mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. |
| The remaining candidates are seen as conservatives close to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. | The remaining candidates are seen as conservatives close to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. |
| Polls eventually closed at 23:00 local time (18:30 GMT) and counting started soon afterwards. | |
| If no candidate secures 50.1% or more of the vote a second round will be held in a week's time. | If no candidate secures 50.1% or more of the vote a second round will be held in a week's time. |
| As polls closed, representatives of all six candidates issued a joint statement urging their supporters to remain calm until the official results are known. | As polls closed, representatives of all six candidates issued a joint statement urging their supporters to remain calm until the official results are known. |
| "We ask people not to pay attention to rumours of victory parades being organised and to avoid gathering before the official results," the statement said. | "We ask people not to pay attention to rumours of victory parades being organised and to avoid gathering before the official results," the statement said. |
| Earlier, Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar told state TV that any presidential candidates unhappy with the results would have three days to lodge complaints to the vetting body, the Guardian Council. | Earlier, Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar told state TV that any presidential candidates unhappy with the results would have three days to lodge complaints to the vetting body, the Guardian Council. |
| Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cast his ballot in Tehran accompanied by Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi and government spokesman Gholam Hoseyn Elham, Fars news agency reported. | Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cast his ballot in Tehran accompanied by Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi and government spokesman Gholam Hoseyn Elham, Fars news agency reported. |
| Journalists detained | Journalists detained |
| Friday's presidential election is the first since 2009, when protesters took to the streets alleging the results had been rigged in favour of Mr Ahmadinejad. | Friday's presidential election is the first since 2009, when protesters took to the streets alleging the results had been rigged in favour of Mr Ahmadinejad. |
| No foreign observers have monitored the poll and there have also been concerns that media coverage in the run-up was unfair. | No foreign observers have monitored the poll and there have also been concerns that media coverage in the run-up was unfair. |
| Many reform newspapers have been shut down, access to the internet and foreign broadcasters restricted, and journalists detained. | Many reform newspapers have been shut down, access to the internet and foreign broadcasters restricted, and journalists detained. |
| On Thursday, the BBC accused the Iranian authorities of putting "unprecedented levels of intimidation" on BBC employees' families. | On Thursday, the BBC accused the Iranian authorities of putting "unprecedented levels of intimidation" on BBC employees' families. |
| It said Iran had warned the families of 15 BBC Persian Service staff that they must stop working for the BBC or their lives in London would be endangered. | It said Iran had warned the families of 15 BBC Persian Service staff that they must stop working for the BBC or their lives in London would be endangered. |
| Tehran has so far made no comment on the allegation. | Tehran has so far made no comment on the allegation. |