Guardian Council confirms Ahmadinejad victory

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran's top electoral body, the Guardian Council, has confirmed the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the presidential election after a partial recount, BBC reported.



News of the decision, which comes after a series of protests by the opposition against what it says was a rigged ballot, was announced by state TV. The 12-strong council is the most influential body in Iran and is currently controlled by conservatives.



Some 17 people are thought to have died during opposition street protests.



"The secretary of the Guardian Council in a letter to the interior minister announced the final decision of the Council... and declares the approval of the accuracy of the results of... the presidential election," the state broadcaster said.



A partial recount of the election carried out on Monday showed no irregularities in the vote, Iran's English-language Press TV television station added.



Mr Ahmadinejad was officially re-elected with 63% of the vote on 12 June. His main challenger, Mir Hossein Mousavi, has said the whole election should be annulled and held again.