Iran's guardian council orders election recount
Iran's guardian council orders partial recount in presidential election
Also In The News
|
England crashed out of the World Twenty20 after suffering a five wicket defeat at the hands of West Indies in a pulsating game at the Oval, reports inthenews. |  |
Tuesday, 16, Jun 2009 03:17
Ballot boxes are to be upturned and votes recounted in Iran after deadly protests broke out over disputed presidential elections.
The country's powerful guardian council, its highest legislative body, said votes could be recounted in disputed areas, but it would not annul the result from the weekend.
Opposition reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi has alleged widespread voting fraud after being given just 33.75 per cent in the polls.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, re-elected with a 62.63 per cent share, has insisted the elections were the "cleanest in the world".
Obama to Iran: The world is watching
The volte-face from the guardian council will not lead to all votes being recounted, analysts have indicated, with elders not interested in a complete annulment either.
Rallies from supporters of Mr Mousavi and President Ahmadinejad had been scheduled for Tehran later today after state television said eight people died in a march protesting against the results in the capital yesterday.
Pro-Mousavi marchers defiant despite blood on streets
But Mr Mousavi called off the march to avoid clashes with supporters of Mr Ahmadinejad.
A series of new restrictions on foreign media covering opposition protests, however, were announced earlier today.