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Iran presidential campaign reaches finale Iran presidential campaign reaches finale
(40 minutes later)
Campaigning in Iran's presidential election has ended after three weeks of mass rallies and increasingly acrimonious political rhetoric.Campaigning in Iran's presidential election has ended after three weeks of mass rallies and increasingly acrimonious political rhetoric.
Iranians will head to the polls on Friday to choose between the incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and three rivals.Iranians will head to the polls on Friday to choose between the incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and three rivals.
They are Mohsen Razai, Mehdi Karroubi and the man seen by most observers as main challenger, Mir Hossein Mousavi.They are Mohsen Razai, Mehdi Karroubi and the man seen by most observers as main challenger, Mir Hossein Mousavi.
There has been ferocious criticism between candidates, hurling insults and strictures about fraud and dishonesty.There has been ferocious criticism between candidates, hurling insults and strictures about fraud and dishonesty.
In his final TV appearance, Mr Ahmadinejad accused his opponents of conspiring with Israelis to falsify documents and graphs to discredit him.In his final TV appearance, Mr Ahmadinejad accused his opponents of conspiring with Israelis to falsify documents and graphs to discredit him.
His rivals boycotted the chance to appear on TV, after apparently not being offered equal airtime.His rivals boycotted the chance to appear on TV, after apparently not being offered equal airtime.
Earlier former president and leading cleric Hashemi Rafsanjani urged Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - who has the final say in all the country's most important affairs state - to rein in Mr Ahmadinejad.Earlier former president and leading cleric Hashemi Rafsanjani urged Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - who has the final say in all the country's most important affairs state - to rein in Mr Ahmadinejad.
If one candidate fails to win a 50% majority in Friday's vote there will be a run-off between the two front-runners a week later.If one candidate fails to win a 50% majority in Friday's vote there will be a run-off between the two front-runners a week later.
'Bottom of history''Bottom of history'
Such insults and accusations against the government are a return to Hitler's methods, to repeat lies and accusations... until everyone believes those lies President Ahmadinejad Power of women in Iran's election In pictures: Poll fever Ahmadinejad courts divided Iran Such insults and accusations against the government are a return to Hitler's methods, to repeat lies and accusations... until everyone believes those lies President Ahmadinejad Power of women in Iran's election In pictures: Poll fever Ahmadinejad courts divided Iran class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6578&edition=1&ttl=20090611114912">Send us your comments
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says the campaign at first appeared to be relatively dull, but there has been an amazing surge of enthusiasm at rallies since the first of several TV debates.The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says the campaign at first appeared to be relatively dull, but there has been an amazing surge of enthusiasm at rallies 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.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."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.Iranians would "send them to the bottom of history", he added.
Supporters of Mr Mousavi have decked themselves in green for campaigningSupporters of Mr Mousavi have decked themselves in green for campaigning
Later the president appeared on state TV to respond to Mr Mousavi and another candidate, Mohsen Rezai, who used graphs to criticise his handling of the economy.Later the president appeared on state TV to respond to Mr Mousavi and another candidate, Mohsen Rezai, who used graphs to criticise his handling of the economy.
He said they had used what he called "Zionist entities", meaning Israeli companies, to falsify information and undermine his government.He said they had used what he called "Zionist entities", meaning Israeli companies, to falsify information and undermine his government.
Our correspondent says this is bound to outrage Mr Ahmadinejad's rivals, who had little chance to respond right at the end of the campaign.Our correspondent says this is bound to outrage Mr Ahmadinejad's rivals, who had little chance to respond right at the end of the campaign.
Iran is ruled under a system known as Velayat-e Faqih, or "Rule by the Supreme Jurist", who is currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Iran is ruled under a system known as Velayat-e Faqih, or "Rule by the Supreme Jurist", who is currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
It was adopted by an overwhelming majority in 1979 following the Islamic revolution which overthrew the autocratic Western-backed Shah.It was adopted by an overwhelming majority in 1979 following the Islamic revolution which overthrew the autocratic Western-backed Shah.
But the constitution also stipulates that the people are the source of power and the country holds phased presidential and parliamentary elections every four years.But the constitution also stipulates that the people are the source of power and the country holds phased presidential and parliamentary elections every four years.
All candidates are vetted by the powerful conservative-controlled Guardian Council, which also has the power to veto legislation it deems inconsistent with revolutionary principles.All candidates are vetted by the powerful conservative-controlled Guardian Council, which also has the power to veto legislation it deems inconsistent with revolutionary principles.