CNN: Analysts pore over 'ambiguous' Iran results

[steven johnson]

I think it's a miracle from Allah as forseen by Mohammad, may his name be praised.

A curse on you infidels who doubt!

Upon becoming president, Ahmadinejad declared his mandate was to pave the way for the coming of this Islamic messiah, the Mahdi.

Ahmadinejad has repeatedly made clear his intention to destroy Israel and the US.

Shia Islamic belief is the last direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammad, also known as the “Mahdi,” was but nine years old when he disappeared eleven centuries ago -- destined to remain hidden from mankind until his pre-ordained return by Allah.

A theocratic Iran “elects” presidents under a sham democratic process controlled by its religious leaders to fulfill the Shia prophecy.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=32009

By Matt Smith CNN
UPDATED: 05:49 PM EDT 06.16.09
 
(CNN)
Iranian presidential challenger Mir Hossein Moussavi's hometown of Tabriz is Exhibit A for his supporters as they argue that last week's election was rigged.

Official results from Friday's polls show that the city and its surrounding province of East Azerbaijan -- dominated by ethnic Azeris like Moussavi -- voted 57 percent to 42 percent to re-elect hard-line incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. It's a result many observers of Iranian politics find incongruous, but just one of the things that have raised eyebrows among Western analysts.

"The fact that you had some areas where conservatives got only 20 percent of the vote in 2005 and got 70 percent of the vote this time -- things like that have people who already had doubts about those numbers scratching their heads," Silver said.

Ahmadinejad took about 63 percent of the vote in the 2005 runoff, similar to his reported share Friday. But in the first round of voting that year, he captured only 20 percent in a field of seven. Meanwhile, Karroubi -- the leading reformist candidate in 2005 -- saw his support plunge from the 15 percent he won that year to less than 1 percent on Friday, according to the Interior Ministry results.



Analysts pore over 'ambiguous' Iran results