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Ahmadinejad wins Iran endorsement Ahmadinejad wins Iran endorsement
(30 minutes later)
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has formally endorsed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as winner of Iran's 12 June presidential election, state TV says.Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has formally endorsed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as winner of Iran's 12 June presidential election, state TV says.
The ayatollah formally backed the incumbent two days ahead of official re-inauguration and amid allegations that election protesters were tortured. The ayatollah formally backed the incumbent two days ahead of official inauguration and amid allegations of post-election torture of protesters.
Election challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi accused the authorities of using torture to extract confessions. Mr Ahmadinejad also faces a struggle to assemble a team of ministers acceptable to parliament, correspondents say.
Opposition groups alleged major vote-rigging and staged large protests.
Since then there has been open evidence of disagreement among senior figures in the Iranian political establishment.
In June, Ayatollah Khamenei offered his backing to Mr Ahmadinejad at the height of the post-election protests.
But senior and respected figures, including two former presidents, Mohammad Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, have spoken out against the process.
Mr Rafsanjani, Mr Mousavi and another defeated presidential candidate, Mehdi Karroubi, were absent from Monday's endorsement ceremony, state TV said, AFP news agency reported.
The BBC's Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne says that the process of formally installing Mr Ahmadinejad for he second term in office will begin despite growing criticism of the president from the opposition and from many conservatives.
The real challenge to Mr Ahmadinejad after his swearing-in could be whether he can assemble a credible government that can be endorsed by parliament, our correspondent says.
Protester trials
The inauguration events come as the authorities continued a crackdown on many of those they allege were involved in directing mass demonstrations after the election results.
About 100 reformists and activists were put on trial in Tehran on Saturday.About 100 reformists and activists were put on trial in Tehran on Saturday.
MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD'S INAUGURAL WEEK Monday: endorsed by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KhameneiWednesday: sworn in by parliament Profile: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad href="/2/hi/middle_east/8101621.stm">Q&A: Election aftermath INAUGURAL WEEK Monday: endorsed by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KhameneiWednesday: sworn in by parliament Profile: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad href="/2/hi/middle_east/8102406.stm">Who's who in Iran
Both Mr Mousavi and former President Mohammad Khatami denounced the hearings which continued on Sunday. The charges include conspiracy, rioting and vandalism. Both Mr Mousavi and former President Mohammad Khatami denounced the hearings, which continued on Sunday. The charges include conspiracy, rioting and vandalism.
They were among thousands of Iranians who rejected the official declaration that Mr Ahmadinejad had won the election.They were among thousands of Iranians who rejected the official declaration that Mr Ahmadinejad had won the election.
Televised confessions have been broadcast, in which a former vice-president, among others, thanked his interrogator for showing him the error of his ways, the BBC's Jon Leyne reports. Televised confessions have been broadcast, in which a former vice-president, among others, thanked his interrogator for showing him the error of his ways.
It looks more like an attempt to intimidate the opposition, than to present credible evidence, our Tehran correspondent says. But the process looks more like an attempt to intimidate the opposition than to present credible evidence, our correspondent says.
Some commentators, however, believe the trials are more likely just to fire up the anger of opposition supporters. Some commentators believe the trials are more likely just to fire up the anger of opposition supporters, he adds.
It is not clear exactly what opposition demonstrations are planned this week but the real challenge for Mr Ahmadinejad after his swearing-in may be whether he can assemble a credible team of ministers that will be endorsed by parliament, our correspondent says.
'Trumped-up trials'
Mr Mousavi accused the authorities of forcing the detainees to confess to the crimes.Mr Mousavi accused the authorities of forcing the detainees to confess to the crimes.
KEY DEFENDANTS Mohammad Ali Abtahi (left): former vice-president, member of the Assembly of Combatant Clerics Mohsen Mirdamadi (centre): leader of the biggest reformist party, the Islamic Iran Participation FrontBehzad Nabavi (right): member of the central council of the Organisation of the Mujahideen of the Islamic Revolution, former industry minister and former vice speaker of parliamentMohsen Aminzadeh: former deputy foreign minister, served under reformist president Mohammad Khatami, member of Islamic Iran Participation Front
"The teeth of the torturers and confession-extorters have reached to the bones of the people," he said."The teeth of the torturers and confession-extorters have reached to the bones of the people," he said.
"Witnessing such trumped-up trials, the only judgment that the conscience of humanity can make is the moral collapse and discredit of its directors.""Witnessing such trumped-up trials, the only judgment that the conscience of humanity can make is the moral collapse and discredit of its directors."
Mohsen Rezai, the only conservative to have challenged Mr Ahmadinejad in the election, also criticised the trial, saying people who had attacked the protesters should also be put on trial.Mohsen Rezai, the only conservative to have challenged Mr Ahmadinejad in the election, also criticised the trial, saying people who had attacked the protesters should also be put on trial.
Earlier Fars news agency reported that a group of Iranian MPs had filed a complaint against Mr Mousavi several weeks ago, calling for him to be put on trial for "directing recent riots".Earlier Fars news agency reported that a group of Iranian MPs had filed a complaint against Mr Mousavi several weeks ago, calling for him to be put on trial for "directing recent riots".
Hardliner Mohammad Taghi Rahba said Mr Mousavi and Mr Khatami were the main culprits behind the unrest.
At Saturday's trial, defendants in prison uniforms were seated flanked by guards. They included supporters of opposition leaders Mr Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, and aides of Mr Khatami.At Saturday's trial, defendants in prison uniforms were seated flanked by guards. They included supporters of opposition leaders Mr Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, and aides of Mr Khatami.
IRANIAN UNREST 12 June Presidential election saw incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected with 63% of voteMain challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi called for result to be annulled, alleging poll fraudMass street protests saw at least 30 people killed and foreign media restrictedIRANIAN UNREST 12 June Presidential election saw incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected with 63% of voteMain challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi called for result to be annulled, alleging poll fraudMass street protests saw at least 30 people killed and foreign media restricted
The semi-official Fars news agency reported that former deputy foreign minister Mohsen Aminzadeh, former government spokesman Abdollah Ramazanzadeh, former senior lawmaker Mohsen Mirdamadi and former Industry Minister Behzad Nabavi were among those on trial.The semi-official Fars news agency reported that former deputy foreign minister Mohsen Aminzadeh, former government spokesman Abdollah Ramazanzadeh, former senior lawmaker Mohsen Mirdamadi and former Industry Minister Behzad Nabavi were among those on trial.
Foreign media, including the BBC, have been restricted in their coverage of Iran since the election protests turned into confrontations with the authorities in which at least 30 people were killed.Foreign media, including the BBC, have been restricted in their coverage of Iran since the election protests turned into confrontations with the authorities in which at least 30 people were killed.
Opposition groups alleged widespread vote-rigging. Post-election protests saw the largest mass demonstrations in Iran since the 1979 revolution, which brought about the current Islamic system of government. Post-election protests saw the largest mass demonstrations in Iran since the 1979 revolution, which brought about the current Islamic system of government.
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