Rafsanjani rallies students ahead of Iran poll

[maddezmom]

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Pragmatic cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani told Iranian students on Tuesday he would champion reforms that could be threatened by the hard-line policies of his surprise rival in a run-off presidential election.


Friday's run-off, after an inconclusive first round election, pits Rafsanjani against ultra-conservative Tehran mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who swept up votes among the poor and religiously conservative by playing on his humble background.

The outcome of the race, which analysts have said is unpredictable, will probably shape how Iran tackles future ties with the United States and a nuclear stand-off with the West.

Analysts say a hard-line presidency could end fragile reforms started under outgoing President Mohammad Khatami and remove a moderating influence in decision-making in Iran, where ultimate power lies with unelected Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

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more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050621/wl_nm/iran_election_dc;_