Rafsanjani Has Lost Iran Election: Close Aide

Agence France Press, Channel NewsAsia:

Moderate Iranian cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has lost a presidential election run-off against ultra-hardliner Mahmood Ahmadinenjad, a close aide to Rafsanjani conceded to AFP Saturday.

"It's finished," said one of Rafsanjani's closest personal aides, who said he preferred not to be named.

He declined to make any other comment.

According to sources close to the count, Ahmadinejad had a strong lead over Rafsanjani, taking over 60 percent of votes among around 13 million ballots counted - more than half of the number believed to have been cast.

The official reports are that they had a low voter turnout. The truth is likely much worse.