Khatami says electoral fraud an "unpardonable
sin"
TEHRAN, Nov 19 (AFP) - President Mohammad Khatami, expected to run for
re-election next May, said Sunday that electoral fraud is an "unpardonable
sin" and called for honesty at the ballot box.
"We must be faithful to the verdict of the polls," said Khatami,
cited by state radio in a meeting with provincial governors.
"All fraud is treason and an unpardonable sin. We must be honest
in announcing the results, whether they be favourable or unfavourable,"
he said.
Khatami saw his pro-reform supporters run away with some 80 percent
of the seats in February's parliamentary elections and put an end to the
longtime conservative majority in the legislature.
But announcement of the final results was delayed by months of wrangling
that saw several re-counts and the wholesale cancelling of the vote in
some districts.
He made no reference to the ongoing battle in the United States, where
the presidential election remains undecided almost two weeks after voters
went to the polls amid unprecedented legal challenges to the results.
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