'Death to America'

2005-06-10 15:24

Tehran - Iranians should turn out in huge numbers for the June 17 presidential elections to declare a great "Death to America", said an ultra-conservative Shiite cleric during the Friday weekly prayers.

Ahmad Janati said: "Myself, Imam Khomenei, supreme leader Ali Khamenei and the twelfth imam expect the voters will declare a great 'Death to America' by going to the polling stations."

He was referring to Iran's late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenei and the twelfth imam, who disappeared 1 400 years ago and Shiite Muslims believed would return to earth to save the world.

"Death to America" was a rallying cry of the Islamic regime.

Israel 'don't want massive turnout'

Janati said: "The United States and Israel do not want a massive turnout by voters in the election as their interests would be in danger.

"This is why it is important the electors take part massively in the vote."

Janati was the head of the Guardians Council, a non-elected conservative body, which blocked reforms of outgoing President Mohammad Khatami's government and disqualified more than 2 000 candidates from legislative elections in 2004.

This year, it disqualified more than 1 000 candidates from the presidential vote.

Importance of high turnout

Two reformist candidates were only allowed to stand after intervention from the supreme leader, who emphasised the importance of a high turnout.

The Islamic republic was looking for a strong turnout to bolster its position after relatively few voted in last year's legislative elections and amid fears of a large boycott this time.

During the legislative elections, about 51% of voters cast their ballots, the weakest showing in the Islamic republic's history.

Participation was even weaker in large cities, most notably in Tehran, where just over 30% of the electorate took part.

- SAPA