By Country / Iran
Iran Confirms Rafsanjani's Election Victory
December 18, 2006
Ayatolah Ali-Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani (file photo) (Fars)
Former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a moderate conservative, garnered more than 1.5 million votes, which is the most of any candidate.
Rafsanjani is a fierce opponent of hard-line President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, and his victory is regarded by observers as a setback for the president.
Ahmadinejad's spiritual mentor, Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, is in sixth place with close to 900,000 votes. However he has enough votes to retain a seat in the 86-member clerical body.
(IRNA, dpa)