Iran election rivals both declare victory (possible coup d'etat in Iran)

[oldoldman]

Iran election rivals both declare victory

The two main candidates in Iran's presidential election have claimed victory, after extended voting as huge numbers of people turned out to vote.

Reformist challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi told a news conference that he had won by a substantial margin.

However, state media said hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won, and officials said he had got 67% of the 15 million votes so far counted.

But Mr Mousavi has complained of some voting irregularities.

He said there had been a shortage of ballot papers and millions of people had been denied the right to vote.

His election monitors were not allowed enough access to polling stations, he added, saying he would deal seriously with any fraud.

"[We] are waiting for the counting of votes to officially end and explanations of these irregularities to be given," Mr Mousavi said. "We expect to celebrate with people soon.

"We hope that authorities in charge do their work in this regard."

Surge of interest

Electoral commission officials said that, with nearly half the ballots counted, Mr Ahmadinejad had gained around two-thirds of the votes.

The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says most of the early votes counted came from rural areas, where Mr Ahmadinejad is considered to be stronger.

The early rival declarations of victory could be a case of the two candidates attempting to stake their claims before the real arguments begin, he says.

IRANIAN ELECTION
# Voting age 18 years; electorate of 42.5m people
# President to serve maximum of two consecutive four-year terms (or three non-consecutive)
# Election won by absolute majority
# Second round held between top two if no candidate wins majority

There has been a surge of interest recently in
with unprecedented live television debates between the candidates and rallies attended by thousands.

There have been long queues of voters at polling stations, with officials predicting an "unprecedented" turnout.

Four candidates are contesting the election, with Mohsen Razai and Mehdi Karroubi trailing the two main contenders.

If no candidate gets 50% in the first round, the two front-runners will face a run-off vote.

The result will be watched closely outside Iran - in the US, Israel, and European capitals - for any hint of a possible shift in the country's attitude to the rest of the world, BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says.

The timing of the election is also crucial, as the US push for a new policy of engagement with Tehran cannot really get going until the outcome of the election is clear, our correspondent adds.

US President Barack Obama said as the polling drew to a close that he was "excited" by the robust debate taking place in the country.

Women's interest

President Ahmadinejad draws support mainly from the urban poor and rural areas, while his rivals have huge support among the middle classes and the educated urban population.

have also shown great interest in the election and it appears many of them will be voting for the moderate candidates who have promised them more social freedoms, our analyst says.

The votes in regions with national and religious minorities are also important, as they normally vote for reformist candidates.

Mr Mousavi is an ethnic Azeri and is expected to do well in his province, as is Mehdi Karroubi in his native Lorestan province.

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.

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.

Story from BBC NEWS:

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iran election rivals both declare victory


Election issues!? IN IRAN!?

[Vuitton]

Anyone know which one is the greater evil of the two? I liked Iran before it went all full force oppression.

[Egon]

Since BBC blows cock, here's a REAL link

Ahmadinejad Takes 70 Percent of Election Votes, Rival Warns of Possible Fraud - Iran | Map | News - FOXNews.com


And let's all pray that the other dude wins.

[Kajii]

Ahmadinejad trying to let him off easy... he could always just, ya know, have him killed.

[Egon]

Ahmadinejad trying to let him off easy... he could always just, ya know, have him killed.

He already made threats to throw him in jail. Read something yesterday about how its illegal for anyone to insult the president, even if you're running against him.

Talk about a rough spot for a campaign manager.

[Dimmauk]

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iran election rivals both declare victory


Election issues!? IN IRAN!?

http://images.chron.com/blogs/beltwa...velaughing.jpg

http://bigheaddc.com/wp-content/uplo...9/sad-gore.jpg

[Egon]

http://images.chron.com/blogs/beltwa...velaughing.jpg

http://bigheaddc.com/wp-content/uplo...9/sad-gore.jpg

QQ

[Qalbert]

dimpled chads

[Gwynplaine]

Zimbabwe part 2 incoming? Probably not, still interesting.

In any case does it really matter much which person wins? I'm under the impression the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has the most authority anyway.

[Kuya]

This always happens in Iran btw. They always declare victory, and the polls are always unreliable (because they are all always biased). I wouldn't expect a real victor for at least 1-2 more days.

edit: Ayatollah Khomeini has most of his authority in terms of international politics or foreign politics. Presidents in Iran pertain more to domestic issues.

[aurik]

Since BBC blows cock, here's a REAL link

Ahmadinejad Takes 70 Percent of Election Votes, Rival Warns of Possible Fraud - Iran | Map | News - FOXNews.com

I laughed really hard at this post. Really hard.

[oldoldman]

I laughed really hard at this post. Really hard.

I didn't laugh, but I certainly made one of the biggest WTF faces.

[guartz]

Ah yes, the Iranian election, sanction by the guardians. Once every four years the people of Iran gather to cast their ballots, a declaration to the world that they prefer homegrown oppressors as opposed to foreign ones.

[guartz]

And let's all pray that the other dude wins.

faith in humanity.. wanes.

[Kuya]

Well, if it means anything, the neocons in the US are hoping Ahmadinejad wins.

[guartz]

Well, if it means anything, the neocons in the US are hoping Ahmadinejad wins.

Kuya, what is this shit?

Granted I only read the first three paragraphs. I need your word it is worth reading further.

[Kuya]

Didn't read it myself, just saw Juan Cole link it whilst saying the neocons want Ahmadinejad to win. Let me check what is says.

[Kuya]

Khameni is not the only one worrying about a Moussavi win, writes Richard Silverstein at Tikun Olam:

As Daniel Pipes recently revealed, he prefers an Ahmadinejad victory. The pro-war camp consisting of neocon Jews, the Israel lobby, and Israel’s Likud rightist bloc needs the most extreme leadership possible. It is far easier to demonize a Holocaust denier than a president who might actually engage in serious negotiations with the Obama administration over Iran’s nuclear program and normalizing U.S.-Iran relations.

What could happen if Moussavi wins? First, Israel’s rush to war will be stymied if not brought to an absolute standstill. The U.S. government will want to give the new Iranian administration time to articulate a new position regarding Obama’s outreach efforts in his Cairo speech and elsewhere. The best laid plans of Israel’s intelligence apparatus will be waylaid.

This is the part.

[guartz]

Ah thanks. It was my assumption though, Pipes was a laughing stock, even amongst friends.

[Conformity]

As an Iranian, I would like to say that this curiosity around the Iranian elections is absolutely outrageous. The president holds no real power and is a mere figurehead, much like the president of Germany. This is the equivalent of voting in student elections in school.