Iranian Presidential Campaigns BeginIran's Interior Ministry on Friday authorized presidential candidates to begin their campaigns, one day ahead of schedule, the official IRNA news agency reported.According to the ministry's statement, carried by the news agency, the campaigns would officially start on Friday and continue till 08:50 a.m. (0420 GMT) on June 7, 24 hours before voters go to ballot boxes. However, the ministry did not explain why the campaigns started earlier than planned. According to Iran's election law, candidates may make public speeches with prior permission of the Interior Ministry, but campaign buses touring streets with loudspeakers are prohibited. On Wednesday, Iran's election watchdog Guardians Council greenlighted 10 candidates, including incumbent President Mohammad Khatami, to stand in the June 8 presidential race. The 57-year-old Khatami, who won a sweeping victory in the 1997 presidential election, has to compete with other nine opponents, mainly conservatives. But he might still be the favorite this time though his advantage may be dented as a result of unrelenting pressure from the conservatives during his first term. |
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