Iran’s Khamenei endorses Ahmadinejad as Iranian president

TEHRAN - Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has endorsed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for his second term in office, amid protests by opposition parties over alleged irregularities in the June 12 presidential elections, a media report said Monday.

Ahmadinejad won the election with almost two-thirds of the vote, Iran’s election commission said.

The Iranian leader made the announcement at a ceremony in Tehran Monday that was attended by senior government officials and secretary of the Guardian Council, an influential body that wields considerable power in the Islamic republic, among others, the Press TV reported.

According to the Iranian constitution, the president has to receive the supreme leader’s approval before he could start his official duties.

Ahmadinejad will be sworn in as President at a ceremony in the Iranian parliament Wednesday.

He will then have two weeks to introduce his cabinet to law-makers for their approval.