Tehran Mayor Wins Iran Presidential Race

World | June 25, 2005, Saturday // 00:00

The hardline Tehran mayor steamrolled over one of Iran's best known statesman to win the presidency Saturday in a landslide election victory that cements conservative control over nation's political leadership. The outcome capped a stunning upset by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who many reformers fear will take Iran back to the restrictions imposed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Interior Ministry gave Ahmadinejad 61.8% of the vote over his relatively more moderate rival, Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, who had 35.7%. The ministry posted a notice declaring Ahmadinejad the winner of Friday's runoff. The figures were based on about 54% of the estimated 23 million votes cast, or nearly 49% of Iran's 47 million eligible voters. In last week's first round of the presidential election, the turnout was close to 63%.The victory gives conservatives control of Iran's two highest elected offices - the presidency and parliament and gives a freer hand to the non-elected theocracy, which holds the final word on all important policies.

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