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Khatami 'pulls out of Iran race' Khatami 'pulls out of Iran race'
(20 minutes later)
Iran's former president Mohammad Khatami is to withdraw his candidacy from the country's June presidential election, the BBC understands.Iran's former president Mohammad Khatami is to withdraw his candidacy from the country's June presidential election, the BBC understands.
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.
Mr Ahmadinejad is expected to stand for re-election.Mr Ahmadinejad is expected to stand for re-election.
An unnamed ally did not give a reason for the withdrawal, and neither did he name the candidate whom Mr Khatami would be supporting.An unnamed ally did not give a reason for the withdrawal, and neither did he name the candidate whom Mr Khatami would be supporting.
MOHAMMAD KHATAMI Served as Iranian president from 1997-2005 Born 1943, the son of a respected ayatollah in Yazd ProvinceRegarded as a reformist Profile: Mohammad Khatami MOHAMMAD KHATAMI Served as Iranian president from 1997-2005 Born 1943, the son of a respected ayatollah in Yazd ProvinceRegarded as a reformist Profile: Mohammad Khatami Mr Khatami was the most liberal president since the revolution.
"He has decided to withdraw... but he will back another moderate candidate who will be announced shortly," the ally told Reuters news agency. But he entered this campaign reluctantly and unenthusiastically, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran, 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.
In this 30th anniversary year of the revolution, June's election will give Iranians a stark choice over the future of the Islamic Republic, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran. His withdrawal therefore comes as no surprise, says our correspondent, and Mr Khatami is now expected to endorse former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi.
Mr Khatami was the most liberal president since the revolution. The decision also leaves Mr Ahmadinejad in a stronger position, our correspondent adds.
Despite heavy criticism of his management of the economy, among other things, Mr Ahmadinejad could well win another four years in power.
In this 30th anniversary year of the revolution, June's election will give Iranians a stark choice over the future of the Islamic Republic.