Second-Round Campaigning Under Way In Iran

Voting in Iran in the 17 June first round 21 June 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Campaigning for Iran's 24 June presidential election runoff is expected to intensify following the declaration by the unelected Guardians Council that the results of last week's first-round vote were final, Radio Farda and other media reported.

The Guardians Council on 20 June dismissed allegations of vote-rigging in the contest, clearing the way for the runoff between the two top finishers: former President Ali-Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani and conservative Tehran Mayor Mahmud Ahmadinejad.

The Guardians Council, in dismissing the claims of vote-rigging, was reported to have ordered a recount from 100 ballot boxes in four cities -- a tiny fraction of the more than 40,000 ballot boxes used in the vote -- and found no irregularities.

Two newspapers, "Aftab-i Yazd" and "Eqbal," which sought to publish a letter from third-place candidate Hojatoleslam Mehdi Mahdavi-Karrubi alleging electoral wrongdoing, were reported on 20 June to have been shut down by authorities.

Rafsanjani and pro-reform supporters have called on Iranians to vote for Rafsanjani to prevent the hard-line Ahmadinejad from becoming president.

(Radio Farda/AP/Reuters/AFP)

See also:

Iran: Recount Ordered After Rigging Allegations In Presidential Vote

For RFE/RL's full coverage, see "Iran Votes 2005"