Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=6/17/05

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAN/VOTE (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-325347(CQ)

BYLINE=GARY THOMAS

DATELINE=TEHRAN

CONTENT=

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HEADLINE: Iranians Vote in Close Presidential Poll

///EDS: UPDATES INTRO. DELETES LAST SENTENCE FROM SECOND GRAF OF TEXT. ///

INTRO: Ballot counting is underway in Iran following Friday's presidential elections. Seven candidates were permitted to run, but two top contenders, pragmatic cleric Akbar Hashemi and reformer candidate Mostafa Moin are expected to advance to the second round of voting. Iran's interior minister said that the runoff is likely with no candidate winning more than 50 percent of Friday's vote. VOA Correspondent Gary Thomas reports from Tehran.

TEXT: Outside the Hossein-e-Ershad Mosque complex in central Tehran, lively debates sprung up between political partisans.

/// DEBATE ACTUALITY AND FADE ///

Inside, people lined up to vote in what could turn out to be the tightest presidential election in post-Islamic revolution Iran.

Former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani went into Friday's vote as a narrow favorite. But supporters of reform candidate Mostafa Moin believed their man could pull off an upset victory, as outgoing President Mohammad Khatami did in 1997. Ex-national police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf is Mr. Rafsanajani's other main challenger. Hundreds of other potential candidates, mainly reformists and women, were disqualified by the Guardian Council, an unelected body of hard-line mullahs.

The candidates are battling apathy and cynicism, particularly among reformers disappointed at how hardliners blocked Mr. Khatami's efforts at democratic reform. Some students called for a boycott of the vote.

Casting his own ballot at the Interior Ministry, the outgoing president said the path to democracy is long and difficult, but that should not discourage people from voting.

/// KHATEMI FARSI ACT AND FADE ///

At the Hossein-e-Ershad Mosque, there was much talk of President Bush's criticism of the Iranian election. On Thursday, Mr. Bush said the Iranian government is repressive, and the election ignores the basic requirements of democracy.

Behnaz Keyhan Khadiv, casting her vote along with her daughter, Maryam Mohammadzadeh, challenged Mr. Bush's remarks, saying the election is democratic.

/// KHADIV ACT ///

"If this is not - this scene that you are here, you can see all people are here - if this is not democracy, then where is democracy?"

/// END ACT ///

One Iranian voter said Mr. Bush's remarks may have actually increased voter turnout.

Early conclusive results are not expected to be known until late Saturday. If no one gets over 50 percent, a runoff will be held June 24th, between the top two vote-getters. (SIGNED)

NEB/GPT/TW/FC