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today's papers Tehran Down the House Posted Sunday, June 14, 2009, at 5:14 AM ET The New York Times, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times all lead with reports of rioting in Tehran after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced he had won Friday's election by a landside 62.6 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, reform candidate and second-place finisher Mir Hossein Mousavi is still insisting that he won, even though official results show him garnering just 34 percent of the vote. Ayatollah Khamenei says he won't get involved in the election, meaning there's no way Mousavi can challenge the results. Following the controversial announcement, police and protesters fought, journalists were harassed and several political opponents were arrested, possibly including Mousavi. Why are voters so suspicious of the results? The LAT explains that during the last 6 Iranian presidential elections, conservative candidates have only won in elections with low turnout-- like the 2005 election that swept Ahmadinejad to power. That year just 48 percent of Iranians voted, compared with up to 86 percent this year. Analysts say they think it's unlikely that so many more people would turn out just to support the incumbent. In a news analysis column, NYT Executive Editor Bill Keller writes that Ahmadinejad's victory will hobble reform efforts in Iran. Keller notes Ahmadinejad shows none of Mousavi's concern about human rights issues and he isn't likely to suddenly reverse his frosty stance toward the West. This leaves President Barack Obama in the uncomfortable position of trying to work for peace with a belligerent leader who may have rigged his reelection. Yet the election is good news for right-wing governments, Keller writes, since the outcome makes it easier for them to continue taking a hard-line stance on Iran. To continue reading, click here. Jesse Stanchak is a writer living in Washington, D.C.Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES Also In Slate The Gabfest Predicts the GOP's 2012 Nominee You Should See What Joe Biden Posted on Obama's Facebook News Feed Wow. The People Who Made Moon Really Have It in for Lunar Exploration. | Advertisement |
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