Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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Iran's President-Elect Urges National Unity After Divisive Poll
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(http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=E035E4:3919ACA

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he aims to make Iran a "modern, advanced and
Islamic" role model for the world





Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waves to his supporters Iran's hard-line
president-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for national unity
after winning a presidential election that split the country along
class lines.

In his first public statement Saturday, since official results were
announced, Mr. Ahmadinejad said he aims to make Iran a "modern,
advanced and Islamic" role model for the world.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei congratulated the
president-elect, saying Iran's enemies had been humiliated by the
outcome of the election.

Final results show Mr. Ahmadinejad won 62 percent of the vote in
Friday's runoff election, against 36 percent for former president Ali
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Analysts say Mr. Ahmadinejad earned the support of the religious urban
and rural poor, while Mr. Rafsanjani drew heavy support from wealthier
Iranians fearful his opponent would enforce strict Islamic moral codes
and further isolate Iran from the West.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.


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