Elections Disappointed Enemy, World Hails His Re-election

Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hailed the election as 'a great victory' saying the nation has disappointed the enemies via its large turnout. "We saw the participation of about 40 million people in a totally free election," Ahmadinejad said in his first televised speech after being re-elected as the Iranian president.

Ahmadinejad won the election with more than 24 million (62.63 percent) out of 39,165,191 votes counted, Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli announced on Saturday.

The President also criticized what he called the Western-led media hype against him in the run-up to the election.

"This is a great victory at a time and condition when the entire material, political and propaganda facilities outside Iran and sometimes inside Iran were totally mobilized against the people and leveled the heaviest pressure and psychological warfare organized against the people of Iran," Ahmadinejad said.

"Yet the Iranians with full vigilance… chose the path to the future… rather than returning to the past," he added.

The president went on to describe his plans for his second term in office. He said the nation seeks justice and rejects discrimination adding that he is committed to fighting corruption.

WORLD LEADERS HAIL AHMADINEJAD’S WIN

The landslide victory of Ahmadinejad in the presidential elections has garnered a mixed response in the World political scene.

Pakistan's President, Asif Ali Zardari, and Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, conveyed their heartiest felicitations and good wishes.

In the Arab world, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa congratulated Ahmadinejad on his historic election win, saying that he hopes his re-appointment would promote better relations between Iran and Arab countries.

The Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, also lauded Ahmadinejad's re-election as Iranian president.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent a congratulatory message to his Iranian counterpart on Saturday, in which he wished the prosperity and welfare of the Iranian people.

Mohammad-Mehdi Akef, Leader of Egyptian Ikhwan al-Muslemin, Palestine's Hamas Resistance, and Lebanon's Hezbollah Party, hailed President Ahmadinejad on his victory in separate messages.

"The outcome of the June 12 elections in Iran show the immense popularity of Iran's policy," read a statement by Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum. "Ahmadinejad's victory proves his success in sponsoring and maintaining the people's interests and hopes and protecting them from the global threats," he added.

The Israeli officials, however, was quick to voice concern over Ahmadinejad's election victory.

"The problem presented by Iran for the international community is not personal, but derives from its policies," Israeli Foreign Minster Avigdor Liberman said in a statement.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also responded rather cautiously to Ahmadinejad's landslide win. "The United States has refrained from commenting on the election in Iran. We obviously hope that the outcome reflects the genuine will and desire of the Iranian people," Clinton said.

France's foreign ministry said it "took note" of the re-election as well as the “contested result.”

Ex-US president Jimmy Carter said there would be no change in American policy "because the same person will be there" in brief remarks after he met Palestinian officials in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

William Hague, foreign affairs spokesman for Britain's main opposition Conservative Party, said the result was a "blow to all those Iranians who had hoped for a change in leadership, reform in their country and better relations with the outside world."

In Moscow, the chairman of the Duma (parliament) Committee on International Affairs Konstantin Kosachev said he hoped Ahmadinejad would "show more understanding and wisdom towards the international community during his second term."

The European Union-- which faced a disappointing record low turnout in its latest elections--has said it is concerned about the status quo in Iran after street protests broke out in the capital Tehran over election results.

Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon expressed serious reservation about Friday's historic polls and said Canadian embassy officials in Tehran are closely monitoring the election aftermath.