3 expat women who practiced prostitution in a hotel arrested in Riyadh    Tunisian president and Saudi interior minister discuss security cooperation    Saudi, US defense ministers discuss over phone ways to enhance strategic cooperation    Grand Mufti expresses pride over Saudi Arabia's firm position on Palestine issue    Saudi Arabia's inflation records slight rise reaching 2% in January 2025    Electromin celebrates victory of "Nissan Formula E Team" in "Jeddah E-Prix" as first Saudi private-sector global partner in Formula E    Saudi Arabia vows full support to Lebanon's actions to safeguard citizens' security    US-made heavy bombs arrive in Israel after Biden-era hold    Death toll from New Delhi railway station stampede rises to 18    US, Russia to begin Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia    Al Ittihad CEO calls for fairness as Al Hilal raises officiating concerns ahead of Saudi Classico    LG Electronics Saudi Arabia and Shaker Group mark 30 years of sustainable innovation in HVAC solutions    Benzema shines with goal and two assists as Al Ittihad dominate Al Wehda French star leads Al Ittihad to 4-1 victory, extending lead over Al Hilal ahead of top-of-the-table clash    Saudi Arabia among world's top 10 energy storage markets    Al Hilal held to controversial 1-1 draw against Al Riyadh, missing chance to reclaim top spot    Al Hilal accuses SPL's Michael Emenalo of bias and SFF's Manuel Navarro of pressuring team to accept local referees Club criticizes officiating, calls for elite foreign referees in Saudi Pro League    Maya Diab joins Arab stars and celebrities in celebrating the Centrepoint Ramadan 2025 collection launch at Riyadh Boulevard    Oilatum tackles rise in Eczema and Dry Skin in Saudi Arabia    HONOR brings together AI and luxury with PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic7 RSR at LEAP 2025    Chinese film stirs national pride, rakes in $1bn in days    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Khatami withdraws from June election
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 17 - 03 - 2009

Moderate former president Mohammad Khatami withdrew from Iran's presidential election on Monday, allies said, a move analysts say may boost President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's reelection chances.
“He has decided to withdraw ... but he will back another moderate candidate who will be announced shortly in a statement by Khatami,” one close ally, who declined to be named, told Reuters.
The outcome of the June election could influence Iran's approach in its row with the West over its nuclear program, even though Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final say on such issues.
Another ally said Khatami pulled out from the race because of his desire to unite the reformist front against Ahmadinejad, a conservative politician who often rails against the West.
“For the sake of the reformist front ... and to avoid splitting the vote, Khatami withdrew,” said the other ally, who also asked not to be named before the statement was published.
Khatami's aides did not name the politician who Khatami would back but the former president had a meeting with another moderate candidate, former prime minister Mirhossein Mousavi, on Sunday.
Mousavi's office said Khatami backed Mousavi's candidacy and his withdrawal was aimed at “not depriving Mousavi of much-needed votes.”
Khatami, who served from 1997 to 2005, oversaw a thaw in Iran's ties with the West.
Those relations have since sharply deteriorated under Ahmadinejad, who is expected to seek a second four-year term in the June 12 vote.
‘Reformers will lose'
Analysts had seen Khatami as Ahmadinejad's main pro-reform challenger.
“Khatami wanted to prevent splitting reformists' votes. But his decision will boost Ahmadinejad's chances to win,” said political analyst and university teacher Hossein Mirshokuhi.
“The reformists will lose. Mousavi and Khatami have different social bases. Supporters of Khatami will not necessarily vote for Mousavi,” he said.
Saeed Laylaz, editor of the Sarmayeh business daily, said many Iranians did not regard Mousavi as a reformist: “Those who wanted to vote for a reformist candidate will not vote for Mousavi.”
Mousavi, prime minister during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, and reformer and former parliament speaker Mehdi Karoubi, have both announced they will run. Ahmadinejad is so far the only leading conservative to let it be known that he will stand.


Clic here to read the story from its source.