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| Ahmadinejad re-election sparks Iran clashes | Ahmadinejad re-election sparks Iran clashes |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of angry protesters have clashed with police after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner of Iran's presidential poll. | |
| Secret police have been attacked, while riot police used batons and tear gas against backers of Mir Hossein Mousavi, who called the results a "charade". | Secret police have been attacked, while riot police used batons and tear gas against backers of Mir Hossein Mousavi, who called the results a "charade". |
| Correspondents say the violence is the worst seen in Tehran in a decade. | Correspondents say the violence is the worst seen in Tehran in a decade. |
| The official results gave Mr Ahmadinejad 63% of the vote against just 34% for Mr Mousavi. | The official results gave Mr Ahmadinejad 63% of the vote against just 34% for Mr Mousavi. |
| Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the high turnout of 85%, described the count as a "real celebration" and called for calm. | Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the high turnout of 85%, described the count as a "real celebration" and called for calm. |
| John Simpson Reporting from Tehran | John Simpson Reporting from Tehran |
| A crowd of about 3,000 attacked the police, some of whom were on motorbikes, which they set on fire. | A crowd of about 3,000 attacked the police, some of whom were on motorbikes, which they set on fire. |
| The sky was thick with black smoke. Police attacked the crowd with sticks and maybe teargas. | The sky was thick with black smoke. Police attacked the crowd with sticks and maybe teargas. |
| I didn't expect to see people turning on the secret police. We were filming when we were surrounded by angry secret policemen. The crowd turned on them and chased them off. | I didn't expect to see people turning on the secret police. We were filming when we were surrounded by angry secret policemen. The crowd turned on them and chased them off. |
| I suspect we are not looking at a revolution but there is serious anger. | I suspect we are not looking at a revolution but there is serious anger. |
| It all depends on how the government responds - if they use violence, that could inflame the situation. In quotes: Reaction to result | It all depends on how the government responds - if they use violence, that could inflame the situation. In quotes: Reaction to result |
| "Enemies may want to spoil the sweetness of this event... with some kind of ill-intentioned provocations," the ayatollah said. | "Enemies may want to spoil the sweetness of this event... with some kind of ill-intentioned provocations," the ayatollah said. |
| Mr Mousavi has also claimed victory, as his supporters said the election had been stolen and vowed to appeal for a re-run. | Mr Mousavi has also claimed victory, as his supporters said the election had been stolen and vowed to appeal for a re-run. |
| But observers say this would have little chance of success. | But observers say this would have little chance of success. |
| Some of the protesters in Tehran wore Mr Mousavi's campaign colour of green and chanted "Down with the dictator", news agencies report. | Some of the protesters in Tehran wore Mr Mousavi's campaign colour of green and chanted "Down with the dictator", news agencies report. |
| Four police motorbikes were set on fire near the interior ministry, where votes had been counted, the BBC's John Simpson in Tehran says. | Four police motorbikes were set on fire near the interior ministry, where votes had been counted, the BBC's John Simpson in Tehran says. |
| Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli warned that any demonstrations needed official permission, and none had been given. | Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli warned that any demonstrations needed official permission, and none had been given. |
| One opposition newspaper has been closed down and BBC websites also appear to have been blocked by the Iranian authorities. | One opposition newspaper has been closed down and BBC websites also appear to have been blocked by the Iranian authorities. |
| Mr Mousavi was hoping to prevent Mr Ahmadinejad winning more than 50% of the vote, in order to force a run-off election. | Mr Mousavi was hoping to prevent Mr Ahmadinejad winning more than 50% of the vote, in order to force a run-off election. |
| Danger of 'tyranny' | Danger of 'tyranny' |
| Mr Mousavi, a former prime minister, dismissed the election result as deeply flawed. | Mr Mousavi, a former prime minister, dismissed the election result as deeply flawed. |
| "I personally strongly protest the many obvious violations and I'm warning I will not surrender to this dangerous charade," the Reuters news agency reported him as saying. | "I personally strongly protest the many obvious violations and I'm warning I will not surrender to this dangerous charade," the Reuters news agency reported him as saying. |
| IRANIAN ELECTION Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: 62.6%Mir Hossein Mousavi: 33.8%Mohsen Rezai: 1.7%Mehdi Karroubi 0.9%Turnout: 85% Source: Interior ministry In pictures: Election clashes Tension looms after Iran result href="/2/hi/middle_east/8098907.stm">Iran poll result: Your comments Send us your comments | |
| "The result of such performance by some officials will jeopardise the pillars of the Islamic Republic and will establish tyranny." | "The result of such performance by some officials will jeopardise the pillars of the Islamic Republic and will establish tyranny." |
| Mr Mousavi had said there was a shortage of ballot papers and alleged that millions of people had been denied the right to vote. | Mr Mousavi had said there was a shortage of ballot papers and alleged that millions of people had been denied the right to vote. |
| His election monitors were not allowed enough access to polling stations, he added. | His election monitors were not allowed enough access to polling stations, he added. |
| The head of the Committee to Protect the People's Votes, a group set up by all three opposition candidates, said the group would not accept the result, alleging fraud. | The head of the Committee to Protect the People's Votes, a group set up by all three opposition candidates, said the group would not accept the result, alleging fraud. |
| They have asked Iran's Guardian Council - a powerful body controlled by conservative clerics - to cancel the results and re-run the elections. A second opposition candidate, Mehdi Karroubi, declared the results "illegitimate and unacceptable". | They have asked Iran's Guardian Council - a powerful body controlled by conservative clerics - to cancel the results and re-run the elections. A second opposition candidate, Mehdi Karroubi, declared the results "illegitimate and unacceptable". |
| The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says the result has been greeted with surprise and with deep scepticism by many Iranians. | The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says the result has been greeted with surprise and with deep scepticism by many Iranians. |
| The figures, if they are to be believed, show Mr Ahmadinejad winning strongly even in the heartland of Mr Mousavi. | |
| The scale of Mr Ahmadinejad's win means that many people who voted for a reformist candidate in the previous presidential election four years ago have apparently switched their votes to Mr Ahmadinejad, he adds. | The scale of Mr Ahmadinejad's win means that many people who voted for a reformist candidate in the previous presidential election four years ago have apparently switched their votes to Mr Ahmadinejad, he adds. |
| However, the president does enjoy the support of many of the urban poor and rural dwellers. | However, the president does enjoy the support of many of the urban poor and rural dwellers. |
| "I am happy that my candidate has won - he helps the poor and he catches the thieves," sandwich seller Kamra Mohammadi, 22, told the AFP news agency. | "I am happy that my candidate has won - he helps the poor and he catches the thieves," sandwich seller Kamra Mohammadi, 22, told the AFP news agency. |
| Mr Mousavi gains much of his support from the middle classes and the educated urban population. | |
| Surge of interest | Surge of interest |
| BBC Iranian affairs analyst Sadeq Saba says the result means that hope for peaceful reform in Iran may die for a long time. | BBC Iranian affairs analyst Sadeq Saba says the result means that hope for peaceful reform in Iran may die for a long time. |
| There had been a surge of interest in Iran's presidential election, with unprecedented live television debates between the candidates and rallies attended by thousands. | There had been a surge of interest in Iran's presidential election, with unprecedented live television debates between the candidates and rallies attended by thousands. |
| Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's supporters have been celebrating the result | Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's supporters have been celebrating the result |
| There were long queues at polling stations, with turnout reaching 85%. | There were long queues at polling stations, with turnout reaching 85%. |
| Four candidates contested the election, with Mohsen Razai and Mehdi Karroubi only registering about 1% of the vote each. | Four candidates contested the election, with Mohsen Razai and Mehdi Karroubi only registering about 1% of the vote each. |
| 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. |
| What do think of the election results so far? Have you been affected by the protests? You can send us your views using the form below: | What do think of the election results so far? Have you been affected by the protests? You can send us your views using the form below: |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |