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| Iran poll critics shun ceremony | Iran poll critics shun ceremony |
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| Senior Iranian political figures appear to have snubbed the formal endorsement of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. | Senior Iranian political figures appear to have snubbed the formal endorsement of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. |
| Influential former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was among those not at Monday's ceremony, state TV said. | |
| Another former president, Mohammad Khatami, was also absent, as were defeated election candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. | |
| Mr Ahmadinejad won a June election but allegations of fraud sparked protests. | Mr Ahmadinejad won a June election but allegations of fraud sparked protests. |
| Thousands of Iranians took to the streets in the largest mass demonstrations in Iran since the 1979 revolution, which brought about the current Islamic system of government. | Thousands of Iranians took to the streets in the largest mass demonstrations in Iran since the 1979 revolution, which brought about the current Islamic system of government. |
| INAUGURAL WEEK Monday: endorsed by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KhameneiWednesday: sworn in by parliament Profile: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Who's who in Iran | INAUGURAL WEEK Monday: endorsed by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KhameneiWednesday: sworn in by parliament Profile: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Who's who in Iran |
| Public protests have ebbed since in the face of a strong police and militia presence on the streets, but the country's political elite has been been in open disagreement about how to move forward. | Public protests have ebbed since in the face of a strong police and militia presence on the streets, but the country's political elite has been been in open disagreement about how to move forward. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad will be inaugurated for a second term in office on Wednesday, and will have two weeks to form a government which can be approved by parliament. | Mr Ahmadinejad will be inaugurated for a second term in office on Wednesday, and will have two weeks to form a government which can be approved by parliament. |
| Hints of tension | Hints of tension |
| In a ceremony broadcast live on state-run TV, Ayatollah Khamenei gave his backing to Mr Ahmadinejad ahead of Wednesday's formal inauguration. | In a ceremony broadcast live on state-run TV, Ayatollah Khamenei gave his backing to Mr Ahmadinejad ahead of Wednesday's formal inauguration. |
| ANALYSIS Jon LeyneBBC News By endorsing the disputed election victory, Ayatollah Khamenei has tied his political future, and perhaps even the future of the Islamic Republic, to the fate of this controversial president. Today that bond was sealed. But the leader must already be wondering whether he might need to jettison the president to secure his own future, even though it would cause him enormous political damage. The real threat to Mr Ahmadinejad could come from his former allies. An increasing number have been expressing doubts about the president's behaviour since the election. As the president attempts to form a new cabinet, and win approval by parliament, his troubles could just be beginning. | ANALYSIS Jon LeyneBBC News By endorsing the disputed election victory, Ayatollah Khamenei has tied his political future, and perhaps even the future of the Islamic Republic, to the fate of this controversial president. Today that bond was sealed. But the leader must already be wondering whether he might need to jettison the president to secure his own future, even though it would cause him enormous political damage. The real threat to Mr Ahmadinejad could come from his former allies. An increasing number have been expressing doubts about the president's behaviour since the election. As the president attempts to form a new cabinet, and win approval by parliament, his troubles could just be beginning. |
| He declared the incumbent president to be the victor of June's election with more than 60% of the vote. | He declared the incumbent president to be the victor of June's election with more than 60% of the vote. |
| "Iranian people have voted in favour of a fight against arrogance, to confront destitution and spread justice," al-Alam TV quoted the ayatollah as saying. | "Iranian people have voted in favour of a fight against arrogance, to confront destitution and spread justice," al-Alam TV quoted the ayatollah as saying. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad, 52, accepted a decree from Ayatollah Khamenei, bowing as the supreme leader offered his hand. | Mr Ahmadinejad, 52, accepted a decree from Ayatollah Khamenei, bowing as the supreme leader offered his hand. |
| There was confusion between the two men as the supreme leader appeared to offer his hand only for Mr Ahmadinejad to reach out and kiss his shoulder. | There was confusion between the two men as the supreme leader appeared to offer his hand only for Mr Ahmadinejad to reach out and kiss his shoulder. |
| Whatever the precise symbolic significance, the strangely awkward moment was a graphic representation of the sometimes difficult relationship between the two leaders, Jon Leyne adds. | Whatever the precise symbolic significance, the strangely awkward moment was a graphic representation of the sometimes difficult relationship between the two leaders, Jon Leyne adds. |
| But 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. | But 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 | Protester trials |
| The inauguration events come as the authorities continue a crackdown on many of those they allege were involved in directing mass demonstrations after the election results. | The inauguration events come as the authorities continue a crackdown on many of those they allege were involved in directing mass demonstrations after the election results. |
| Mousavi (r) and Khatami have both denounced the trials | Mousavi (r) and Khatami have both denounced the trials |
| 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. |
| 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. | Televised confessions have been broadcast, in which a former vice-president, among others, thanked his interrogator for showing him the error of his ways. |
| But the process looks more like an attempt to intimidate the opposition than to present credible evidence, our correspondent says. | But the process looks more like an attempt to intimidate the opposition than to present credible evidence, our correspondent says. |
| 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 restricted | 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 restricted |
| Mr Mousavi accused the authorities of forcing detainees to confess to the crimes. | Mr Mousavi accused the authorities of forcing detainees to confess to the crimes. |
| "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." |
| 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. |
| Are you in Iran? What are your views on the latest events in your country? Send us your comments. | Are you in Iran? What are your views on the latest events in your country? Send us your comments. |
| 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 |