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Iran's Khatami to run for office | Iran's Khatami to run for office |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Iran's former president Mohammad Khatami has ended months of speculation by announcing that he will run in June's presidential election. | Iran's former president Mohammad Khatami has ended months of speculation by announcing that he will run in June's presidential election. |
Mr Khatami was president of Iran from 1997-2005 and was succeeded by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a conservative. | Mr Khatami was president of Iran from 1997-2005 and was succeeded by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a conservative. |
"I will seriously take part as a candidate for the election," he told a meeting of a pro-reform group. | "I will seriously take part as a candidate for the election," he told a meeting of a pro-reform group. |
In January, a close aide to Mr Ahmadinejad said the incumbent would, as expected, stand for re-election. | In January, a close aide to Mr Ahmadinejad said the incumbent would, as expected, 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 | |
Mr Khatami, the most liberal president since the revolution, should have a good chance of unseating Mr Ahmadinejad, arguably the most conservative leader in that time, says the BBC's Jon Leyne, in Tehran. | |
However, he will face tough opposition from hardliners in the clergy and military, our correspondent adds. | However, he will face tough opposition from hardliners in the clergy and military, our correspondent adds. |
Mr Khatami urged a free election, saying the fate of the Islamic Revolution was at stake. | Mr Khatami urged a free election, saying the fate of the Islamic Revolution was at stake. |
"Is it possible to remain indifferent toward the revolution's fate and shy away from running in the elections?" he asked at a news conference in Tehran. | "Is it possible to remain indifferent toward the revolution's fate and shy away from running in the elections?" he asked at a news conference in Tehran. |
"I consider this as a right to run in this stage. This candidacy doesn't deprive others and the path is open. What should be stressed is that the elections must be held freely." | "I consider this as a right to run in this stage. This candidacy doesn't deprive others and the path is open. What should be stressed is that the elections must be held freely." |
'Desire for change' | |
It should prove an intriguing contest in June, our correspondent says. | |
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been a controversial figure | |
In this 30th anniversary year of the revolution, it will give Iranians a stark choice over the future of the Islamic Republic. | |
One other obstacle for Mr Khatami, Jon Leyne adds, is that his old supporters were disillusioned by his failure to push through more changes when he was in power. | |
Therefore, the challenge will be persuading them to go out and vote. | |
Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a close aide of Mr Khatami, warned that the results of elections in Iran were always of "serious concern" - an apparent reference to vote-rigging. | |
"But if the voter participation is high, we can easily win the election," he told AFP news agency. |
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