Iran

Partial recount of presidential vote begins

Article published on the 2009-06-29 Latest update 2009-06-29 13:11 TU

Iranian protesters march near Ghoba mosque in northern Tehran June 28, 2009.
(Credit: Reuters)

Iran's top election body began a partial recountof ballots from the June 12 contested presidential election. The Guardians Council, an unelected body of 12 jurists and clerics, has set up a committee to conduct the recount. The Council started recounting 10 percent of the ballot boxes on Monday. It said the recount is expected to be completed by Monday afternoon and the result would be announced within 24 hours.

 

 However, the opposition is demanding a complete recount of the vote, claiming it was marred by widespread irregularities. Opposition candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi rejected the panel and declined to send any representatives to oversee the count.

 

Mousavi insists there must be an independent commission assigned to do the recount.

 

In 12 June’s vote, Mousavi won 34 per cent against 63 per cent for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a gap of 11 million votes, according to official results. Karroubi came in a distant fourth with less than one per cent.