Official results of the Iranian presidential election showed yesterday the victory by a landslide of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a new presidential term. This came amid a state of tension and clashes because of accusations by the main conservative rival, the moderate Mir Hussein Mousavi against the government of rigging the election results, and his supporters took to the streets in protest. Sadeq Mahsouli, Iranian Interior Minister, announced that Ahmadinejad won with 62.6% of the votes while his moderate rival, Mir Hussein Mousavi received 33.75%. The other two candidates, Mohsen Rezaie and Mehdi Karrubi together received less than a million votes. Voter turnout reached 85% which is equivalent to 39 million voters from among the 46 million registered in a record turnout.
Moussaoui said: "I strongly protest the many clear violations and will surrender to this serious representation and such conduct by several officials which threatens the pillars of the Islamic Republic and will lead to tyranny." Mehdi Karrubi, head of the Iranian Council of the previous elections described the elections as "illegal" and "unacceptable." In return, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, described Ahmadinejad victory of a second term and the intensity of the vote in the elections, as "a real holiday that ensures the country's progress and national security, and it is a pleasure always." He urged the defeated candidates to support the president-elect and not to take provocative actions. Ahmadinejad's supporters took to the streets of Tehran holding flags to express their happiness for his victory whilst supporters of Moussaoui clashed with the police. There were clashes also between Ahmadinejad's supporters and Moussaoui's supporters.
Moussaoui's supporters shouted their support while they gathered in central Tehran by the thousands protesting against the government, but the police dispersed them by using batons and arrested others. It was reported that a bank was burned by the demonstrators.
