Ahmadinejad: Election ‘free and healthy’

IRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday an election in which he secured another four-year term was “free and healthy”, rejecting allegations of irregularities by a moderate rival in the vote.

“People voted for my policies,” the conservative president said in a televised address a day after the disputed election, in his first post-election comment.

“It was a free and healthy election,” he said, without making direct reference to assertions by former Prime Minister Mirhossein Mousavi that there were many violations in the vote.

“Everybody should respect people’s vote ... we need a calm atmosphere to build the country,” Ahmadinejad said. He also took a swipe at his opponents in the election, which was marked by unprecedented mudslinging.

Tehran, Sunday, Reuters

Mousavi calls supporters to avoid violence

IRAN: Iran’s defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi urged his supporters to avoid violence after they launched mass protests in Tehran on Saturday against his loss in the election.

“I firmly call on you not to subject any individual or groups to hurt. Do not lose your calm and restraint.

Everybody should draw a line between themselves and any violent behaviour,” Mousavi said.

Tehran, Sunday, AFP