Moderate Iranian presidential candidates register for election

The two main challengers of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the upcoming presidential elections on Saturday formally registered their candidacy for the June 12 polls.

While registering at the Interior Ministry in Tehran, ex-premier Mir-Hossein Moussavi and former parliament speaker Mehdi Karroubi once again criticized the president for his economic and foreign policies.

"I have come to the scene because I think this government cannot run the country's affairs. There should be changes in all fields," Karroubi told reporters after registering.

The moderate cleric and head of the Etemad Melli party voiced concern about possible manipulation, and especially interference by the revolutionary guards who support Ahmadinejad. Karroubi called on the senate-like Guardian Council to fulfill its obligation to guarantee legitimate elections.

Both Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Guardian Council head Ahmad Jannati rejected all charges by opposition groups that the elections could be manipulated.

Ahmadinejad registered on Friday and said he hoped that all candidates would have a fair chance to express their views.

Moussavi said he entered race the because of the unsuitable political and economic situation.

"We should seek a better way for communicating with the world," Moussavi said referring to Ahmadinejad's uncompromising policies on the nuclear dispute and the Middle East, having pushed Iran into renewed international isolation.

Moussavi last month said what Iran needed at the current critical juncture was "return to rationality," because development policies could not be pursued in an atmosphere "of confusion and insecurity."

On Friday Moussavi blamed President Ahmadinejad for his "futile slogans" and said the people should not pay astronomic costs just for these slogans.

"I believe that we can maintain our principles but at the same time lead a policy based on detente. There is no necessity at all to turn all countries into enemies," Moussavi said.

Another challenger is revolutionary guards commander Mohsen Rezaei. Although he has no real chance to win, the conservative candidate could get votes from circles critical of Ahmadinejad but not on the side of the two moderate candidates.

Political analysts say turnout will be the key factor in the June elections.

Due to widespread popular dissatisfaction with Ahmadinejad's economic policies, a high turnout would bring many protest votes in favor of the opposition candidates, namely Moussavi.

A low turnout, however, would offer Ahmadinejad better chances, as his supporters are expected to go to the polls.