5 Jul 2009

Report details 'fraud and irregularities' in Iran election

8:52 pm on 5 July 2009

The defeated Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi has released a new 25-page report detailing "fraud and irregularities" in the 12 June election.

The report, prepared by the Committee for the Protection of Votes which is run by Mr Mousavi's campaign office, accused President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of abusing the state machinery during the campaign.

It charged that the hardline incumbent had distributed cash to secure the votes of working class Iranians.

The report accused the interior ministry, which was charged with organising the election, and the Guardians Council - the official electoral watchdog - of being biased towards President Ahmadinejad.

It asked why the interior ministry had printed 14 million more ballots than the total registered electorate of some 46 million.