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Iran awaits presidential election result Hassan Rouhani leads Iran presidential election vote count
(about 1 hour later)
Iranians are waiting for the results from Friday's presidential election, with early counts showing a clear lead for the reformist-linked candidate. Early results from Iran's presidential election put the reformist-backed candidate, Hassan Rouhani, in the lead.
Hassan Rouhani has spoken about the need to re-engage with the West and has promised to free political prisoners. With 2.9m ballots counted, the cleric had 1.46m votes, or 49.87%, well ahead of Tehran mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, with 488,000 votes, or 16.65%.
Mr Rouhani had garnered about 45% of the votes after after almost two million ballots had been counted, If no candidate wins more than 50%, a run-off will be held next Friday.
Some 50 million Iranians were eligible to vote to decide a successor to outgoing leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Electoral officials said turnout was high among the 50 million Iranians who were eligible to vote on Friday for a successor to 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 nuclear programme.
The count was slightly delayed after officials pushed back polling station closing times by five hours. Joint statement
Although all six candidates are seen as conservatives, analysts say Mr Rouhani has been reaching out to reformists in recent days. The interior ministry began releasing preliminary figures early on Saturday after a delay of several hours.
Voting was extended until 23:00 local time (18:30 GMT) to allow more people to cast their ballots. Press TV reported that turnout was 80%.
It is unclear when the final results will be known, but by 08:00 (03:30 GMT), with about 7.5% of votes counted, Mr Rouhani had more than twice as many as his nearest rival.
Although all six candidates are seen as conservatives, analysts say Mr Rouhani - a 64-year-old cleric often described as "moderate" who has held several parliamentary posts and served as chief nuclear negotiator - 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 therefore went into polling day with the endorsement of two ex-presidents - Mr Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani - who was disqualified from the race by the powerful Guardian Council, a 12-member body of theologians and jurists.
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 faced a tough challenge from hardline candidates, including Mr Qalibaf - who is seen as a pragmatic conservative - and nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili - who is said to be very close to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The remaining candidates are seen as conservatives close to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. The other three candidates are Mohsen Rezai, a former head of the powerful Revolutionary Guards, former foreign minister Ali Akbar Velayati and former telecommunications minister Mohammad Gharazi.
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.
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 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. President 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 'Intimidation'
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. Millions of Iranians took to the streets to demand a re-run after the last presidential election in June 2009, when the Supreme Leader dismissed claims by the three defeated candidates of widespread fraud.
No foreign observers have monitored the poll and there have also been concerns that media coverage in the run-up was unfair. Two of them, former Prime Minister Mir Hussein Mousavi and senior cleric Mehdi Karroubi, became leaders of a nationwide opposition known as the Green Movement, after its signature colour.
Many reform newspapers have been shut down, access to the internet and foreign broadcasters restricted, and journalists detained. They were placed under house arrested in February 2011 when they applied to stage a protest in support of the anti-government uprisings which were sweeping the Arab world. They are still being detained.
On Thursday, the BBC accused the Iranian authorities of putting "unprecedented levels of intimidation" on BBC employees' families. No foreign observers are monitored this year's election and there have also been concerns that media coverage in the run-up has been unfair.
Many reformist 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 "unprecedented levels of intimidation" of 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.