Defiant Iran president takes oath

          
          BBC NEWS World Middle East Defiant Iran president takes oath http://newsvote.bbc.co .uk /n 'papps/pagetools/print /i ws.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/nt..
          I1flE NEWS
          Defiant Iran president takes oath
          Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been sworn in for a second term as Iran's president, after weeks
          of post-election unrest.
          In an address after the ceremony, he criticised foreign powers who have cast doubt on the validity of the
          election, saying Iran would resist them.
          Opposition supporters protesting outside parliament were met by hundreds of riot police.
          Germany, France, Britain and the US all said they would not be sending letters of congratulation to Mr
          Ahmadinejad.
          At least 30 people died during the street protests which followed the 12 June poll.
          Mr Ahmadinejad now has two weeks to form a government that must then be approved by parliament.
          ‘We will resist'
          Taking his oath of office, broadcast live on state TV, Mr Ahmadinejad promised to “protect the official
          faith, the system of the Islamic revolution and the constitution”.
          ANALYSIS
          Jon Leyne, BBC Tehran correspondent The formalities have been observed.
          Iran's authorities will be pleased that the show of unity was maintained as Mr
          Ahmadinejad was sworn in for his second four-year term.
          For the moment the fractured Iranian establishment has come together to agree on
          the one thing that unites them - decrying foreign interference in their domestic
          affairs.
          Nevertheless, there was a substantial boycott by reformist members of parliament,
          and by leading opponents of Mr Ahmadinejad, including former President Rafsanjani.
          Already the conservative press is speculating about the new cabinet. The
          conservative Hamshahri newspaper called for the new ministers to be “efficient,
          religious and prudent” - a strong hint that conservatives have not been happy with
          the calibre of past ministers.
          The opposition has kept up its pressure on the streets. The appearance of calm and
          normality in Iran's affairs of state may not last very long.
          In the address that followed, he called for “a national will, a national resolve”, and told his audience: “We
          need to join forces.”
          “I do not have any incentive other than serving the people and the country and I do not think of anything
          but the progress and development of the nation,” Mr Ahmadinejad said.
          Following the swearing-in, he used his first address to defend the official results of the election - which
          gave him an overwhelming victory - and criticised Western powers' response to the disputed poll.
          “Some governments should feel responsible for their words and deeds,” he said.
          “The people of Iran are for a constructive dialogue... We will resist violations of law and abuse...
          “ [ Foreign governments] just want democracy at the service of their own interests - they do not respect
          the rights of other nations. They see themselves as the yardstick of democracy - our people oppose this,
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          that's what our people are resisting,” he said.
          Several states which have criticised the elections said they would not be sending customary letters of
          congratulations to Mr Ahmadinejad to mark his reappointment as president, including the US, Germany,
          France and the UK.
          “Nobody in Iran is waiting for anyone's congratulations,” said Mr Ahmadinejad, to the laughter of listening
          deputies.
          Outside, hundreds of demonstrators gathered. There were reports of clashes with riot police and at least
          one arrest.
          Khamenei endorsement
          There were some notable absences for Wednesday's inauguration ceremony, though envoys from the
          European Union and the UK did attend.
          I “After the election I demonstrated in support of the government. This is
          because I see the protesters as a minority group who are trying to impose
          their view on the majority”
          Amir, 28-year-old architect, Tehran
          Mr Ahmadinejad's predecessors as president - Mohammad Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani - were
          missing, as they were from a formal ceremony to endorse his presidency on Monday.
          Also missing were two defeated opposition candidates - Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi - who
          continue to contest the results.
          In addition, a reformist faction of about 70 MP5 said only about 13 of its members attended - and some of
          those who did attend reportedly left during Mr Ahmadinejad's speech in a show of protest.
          Mr Ahmadinejad has received the backing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has supported
          him throughout the unrest.
          Mr Khamenei said Mr Ahmadinejad was the rightful winner and that Iranians had “voted in favour of a
          fight against arrogance, to confront destitution and spread justice”.
          Meanwhile in the US, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs retracted his description of Mr Ahmadinejad
          as the “elected president” of Iran.
          Mr Gibbs said he had misspoken and that the US would leave it up to the Iranian people to decide
          whether the election was fair.
          The BBC's Tehran correspondent, Jon Leyne, says forming an acceptable, credible government could be
          the real challenge for the Iranian president.
          Mr Ahmadinejad has been dogged by controversy in recent weeks, becoming embroiled in a series of
          disputes with conservative politicians who would normally be his allies.
          More than 100 people, including some members of the opposition movement, went on trial in Iran on
          Saturday for their alleged involvement in the post-election violence.
          Foreign media, including the BBC, have been restricted in their coverage of Iran since the election
          protests turned into confrontations with the authorities in which at least 30 people were killed.
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          Published: 2009/08/05 16:55:40 GMT
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