Iran's top legislative body confirmed today the results of a disputed June 12th election which was won by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, state broadcaster IRIB reported.
"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," IRIB said.
The Council decision followed a partial recount of the election which began today, but one defeated reformist candidate said an annulment of the poll was "the only way to regain the people's trust."
Witnesses reported an increased police presence in some Tehran squares ahead of the expected announcement of the recount outcome. One witness said dozens of riot police vehicles were driving towards southern Tehran.
Earlier today pro-reform cleric Mehdi Karoubi, fourth in the official count, reiterated his call for the vote to be annulled in a letter to Iran's top legislative body, the Guardian Council, which recounted a random 10 per cent of the votes.
"The election's annulment is the only way to regain the people's trust," said Mr Karoubi, in a position shared with defeated candidate Mirhossein Mousavi, who met yesterday with a committee of the council in a bid to resolve a political crisis that has exposed rifts in Iran's ruling establishment.
The council's spokesman Abbasali Kadkhodai told state radio that talks over Mr Mousavi's proposal had no clear outcome, but the moderate candidate was not available for comment. Mr Mousavi has said a "national arbitration committee" should examine the vote.
Reuters