This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8093480.stm

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Iran election row fires up rivals Iran row fires campaign's end
(about 2 hours later)
A war of words between political rivals in Iran has intensified, two days before the country votes in presidential elections. Final campaigning for Iran's presidential poll has been overshadowed by a row over accusations made by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Ex-President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has urged the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to rein in current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Huge crowds have been gathering on the streets, as rival candidates hold their last election rallies.
In a TV election debate last week, Mr Ahmadinejad alleged that Mr Rafsanjani and other politicians were corrupt. In a letter published by several media, ex-President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani urged Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to rein in the president.
Mr Ahmadinejad also accused rivals of lying about the state of the economy. Mr Ahmadinejad alleged Mr Rafsanjani and other politicians were corrupt.
He is thought to be in a tight race with his main rival, reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi. Two other candidates are standing.He is thought to be in a tight race with his main rival, reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi. Two other candidates are standing.
In a rally in Tehran on the last day of campaigning, attended by thousands, class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/8060304.stm">President Ahmadinejad lambasted his opponents, saying Iranians would "send them to the bottom of history". 'Bottom of history'
The BBC's John Leyne in Tehran says huge crowds have been gathering in the capital in support of rival candidates, sounding more like boisterous football crowds than election campaigners. The BBC's John Leyne in Tehran says the crowds gathering in the capital in support of rival candidates sound more like boisterous football crowds than election campaigners.
The campaign at first appeared to be relatively dull, our correspondent says, but there has been an amazing surge of enthusiasm since the TV debates.
TV request
Mr Rafsanjani, who was Mr Ahmadinejad's main opponent in the 2005 elections, was himself president from 1989 to 1997 and currently heads the Expediency Council - Iran's main political arbitration body.
Power of women in Iran's electionPower of women in Iran's election
The campaign at first appeared to be relatively dull, our correspondent says, but there has been an amazing surge of enthusiasm since the first of several TV debates.
Speaking to thousands of supporters in Tehran in the last hours of campaigning, President Ahmadinejad accused rivals of lying about the state of the economy and using smear tactics against him.
"Such insults and accusations against the government are a return to Hitler's methods, to repeat lies and accusations ... until everyone believes those lies," he said, quoted by local media.
Iranians would "send them to the bottom of history", he added.
Mr Ahmadinejad said specifically that he would respond on state TV to criticism by use of graphs of his handling of the economy by Mr Mousavi and another candidate, Mohsen Rezai.
But an aide to the fourth candidate, Mehdi Karroubi, said that, while all the candidates had been given slots on TV, Mr Ahmadinejad's was much longer than the others'.
"In protest at this illegal and unfair action, Mousavi and Karroubi will be boycotting their TV appearances," Easa Saharkhiz said, quoted by AFP news agency.
Instead the two candidates would address a joint rally in central Tehran, he added.
'Effective action'
Mr Rafsanjani remains powerful 12 years since he gave up the presidency
The last day of campaigning was also coloured by an intervention by Mr Rafsanjani, who was Mr Ahmadinejad's main opponent in the 2005 elections, and was himself president from 1989 to 1997 and currently heads the Expediency Council - Iran's main political arbitration body.
In an open letter to the supreme leader published by several newspapers, he said Mr Ahmadinejad's statements threatened to undermine the Islamic revolution.In an open letter to the supreme leader published by several newspapers, he said Mr Ahmadinejad's statements threatened to undermine the Islamic revolution.
He had personally told the president to take back his remarks, which he described as "irresponsible and untruthful", he said. He asked Ayatollah Khamenei to resolve the dispute.He had personally told the president to take back his remarks, which he described as "irresponsible and untruthful", he said. He asked Ayatollah Khamenei to resolve the dispute.
"I ask your eminence, given your position, responsibility and personality, to solve this problem and act in a way you deem right to take effective action in eliminating the mutiny," the former president said, quoted by AFP news agency."I ask your eminence, given your position, responsibility and personality, to solve this problem and act in a way you deem right to take effective action in eliminating the mutiny," the former president said, quoted by AFP news agency.
Fourteen high-ranking clerics echoed the complaint.Fourteen high-ranking clerics echoed the complaint.
Mr Ahmadinejad told supporters at the rally that he had asked to appear on state TV to respond to criticism by use of graphs of his handling of the economy by Mr Mousavi and another candidate, Mohsen Rezai.
No decision has been taken on whether to broadcast the message.
Our correspondent says if it goes ahead it is likely to upset the other candidates, who will not be able to respond themselves before campaigning ends at 0800 local time (0330 GMT) on Thursday.