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Iran's reformist president re-elected
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MOHAMMAD KHATAMI, Iran's reformist president who swept into power four years ago, clinched another major victory in Friday's presidential election by garnering over 21 million votes, or 77 percent of the total cast.
Campaigning on social, economic and political reforms, Khatami was given another chance by the Islamic republic to carry out his election pledges and materialize his vision of a freer and more open religious democracy.
The election race, which pit Khatami, supported by women, intellectuals and the young, against nine other mostly conservative rivals, shaped up like a one-man race as none of the rivals has ever posed any serious threat to him.
He has been under fierce attacks by conservatives who have accused him of sacrificing the country's economy for political freedoms.
Failure to create enough job opportunities for the young is Khatami's Achilles' heel that risks wearing away people's confidence in his ability to push forward his reforms.
“Patience, moderation and prudence” as well as “commitment to the ideals of the Islamic revolution” are what viewed by the moderate Khatami as prerequisites to sort out all problems of the country and meet public demands.
Facing an uphill battle, Khatami, aged 57 and a father of three, said he has “the same feeling” as in his first term to serve the people and the nation.
Now the new president, with even greater mandate from the people, is going to try hard to build an Islamic republic in which, as he said, religion and democracy should be linked.
(SD-Agencies)
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