http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22916174
15 June 2013 Last updated at 12:53 GMT Share this page - Email<http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/email/www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22916174> - Print <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22916174?print=true> 2.5K - Share <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22916174#> - Facebook <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22916174#> - Twitter <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22916174#> Hassan Rouhani leads Iran presidential election vote count Reformist-backed candidate Hassan Rouhani is maintaining a commanding lead with more than half the ballots counted in Iran's presidential poll. The cleric has just over 51% of 23 million votes counted so far - well ahead of the next candidate, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. Mr Rouhani could win in the first round if he finishes with more than 50%. Turnout was estimated at 80% among the 50 million Iranians eligible to vote for a successor to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. His eight years in power have been characterised by economic turmoil and Western sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme. Surge of support Final results are expected later in the day. Preliminary figures began to emerge early on Saturday after a delay of several hours. Continue reading the main story<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22916174#story_continues_2>At the scene [image: image of Mohsen Asgari]Mohsen AsgariBBC News, Tehran In a grocery shop not far from the office, people seemed happy. I joined the shopkeeper and a few of his customers eagerly watching the main news bulletin on state TV. Hassan Rouhani, a cleric backed by moderate and reformist figures, has taken an outright lead, leaving his main rival, Mr Qalibaf - the current Tehran mayor - a long way behind. Mr Rouhani has been the supreme leader's representative in various posts over the last 30 years. The cleric, a moderate conservative, could line up all moderate and reformist figures plus many moderate conservatives and forge unity among them. If he becomes Iran's new president, the country could witness an age of moderation in the next four years. Officials at the election headquarters said that with more than 23,014,873 votes counted - 22,247,364 of them valid: - Hassan Rouhani has 11,754,013 (51.07%) - Mr Qalibaf is in second place with 3,494,938 - Mohsen Rezai lies third with 2,723,202 followed by Saeed Jalili on 2,593,169. State TV channels said the winning candidate needed more than 50% of all ballots cast, including invalid ones, Reuters news agency reported. Voting was extended by five hours on Friday evening to allow more people to cast their ballots. Iranian Press TV said turnout was 80%. Although all six candidates are seen as conservatives, analysts say Mr Rouhani - a 64-year-old cleric often described as "moderate" who has held several parliamentary posts and served as chief nuclear negotiator - has been reaching out to reformists in recent days. The surge of support for him came after Mohammad Reza Aref, the only reformist candidate in the race, announced on Tuesday that he was withdrawing on the advice of pro-reform ex-President Mohammad Khatami. Mr Rouhani thus went into polling day with the endorsement of two ex-presidents - Mr Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was disqualified from the race by the powerful Guardian Council, a 12-member body of theologians and jurists. Continue reading the main story<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22916174#story_continues_3>Iranian presidential election - Seen as contest between Ayatollah Ali Khamenei loyalists and moderate reformers - Early lead taken by Hassan Rouhani, a cleric described as a moderate who is backed by two ex-presidents - Nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, said to be very close to Mr Khamenei, in fourth place - About 50 million people were eligible to vote; turnout put at around 80% - If no candidate wins more than 50%, run-off held on 21 June - Q&A: Iran's 2013 elections<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22841145> - Election in depth<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22767288> - Profiles of candidates<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22611601> - In pictures: Iranian elections<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22902240> The hardline candidates include Mr Qalibaf - who is seen as a pragmatic conservative - and nuclear negotiator Mr Jalili - who is said to be very close to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The other three candidates are Mr Rezai, a former head of the powerful Revolutionary Guards, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi. One eligible voter, Mahdi, a software developer from Mashhad said he had not cast a ballot as he was "against the Islamic Republic". But he added: "Having said that, I hope Rouhani wins, because he is the best candidate... Rouhani won't change things dramatically, he will probably only make things slightly better." Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar told state TV that any presidential candidates unhappy with the results would have three days to lodge complaints to the Guardian Council. The supreme leader will ratify the vote on 3 August, before the new president takes the oath in parliament. 'Intimidation' After the last presidential election in June 2009, millions of Iranians took to the streets to demand a rerun, when the supreme leader dismissed claims by the three defeated candidates of widespread fraud. Two of them, former Prime Minister Mir Hussein Mousavi and senior cleric Mehdi Karroubi, became leaders of a nationwide opposition known as the Green Movement, after its signature colour. Continue reading the main story<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22916174#story_continues_4>Iranian press reaction - *Jomhuri-ye Eslami *(hardline): The significant turnout conveyed a few messages. Firstly, the foreign enemy should realise that Iran's domestic conflicts and challenges can never prevent people from voting. - *Khorasan *(conservative): The high turnout has enhanced Iran's image and strategic credibility. - *Etemad* (reformist) : This election can be considered as one of the most effective and at the same time the most sensitive to have been held in the 34 years since the Islamic Revolution. - *Resalat* (conservative): The government that will be formed by the epic vote of the people should stand against the excessive demands of the West. They were placed under house arrested in February 2011 when they applied to stage a protest in support of the anti-government uprisings which were sweeping the Arab world. They are still being detained. No foreign observers monitored this year's election and there have also been concerns that media coverage in the run-up has been unfair. Many reformist newspapers have been shut down, access to the internet and foreign broadcasters has been restricted, and journalists have been detained. On Thursday, the BBC accused the Iranian authorities of "unprecedented levels of intimidation" of BBC employees' families. It said Iran had warned the families of 15 BBC Persian Service staff that they must stop working for the BBC or their lives in London would be endangered. Tehran has so far made no comment on the allegation. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
