NYT: Former President Khatami tells reporters he thinks Ahmadinejad has lost and Moussavi has won.

[flpoljunkie]

Update 12:13 PM: According to The Associated Press, former President Mohammad Khatami told reporters that he think incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has lost to his main rival, Mir Hussein Moussavi: “All indications suggest that Moussavi has won.” The conventional thinking, as The A.P. reports is that: “A strong turnout could boost Mousavi. He is counting on under-30s, who account for about a third of Iran’s 46.2 million eligible voters.”

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/updates-on-irans-presidential-election/

[OKNancy]

1. really interesting -- the neocons must be fuming!! hahahaha

n/t

[grantcart]

8. Netanyahu is not having a good day

The spotlight will now be on him to respond.


So much for linkage to Iran.

[Cha]

12. They should want

Peace too:)

[grantcart]

14. And I am sure that he does but he is going to have to take a step on settlements now

and it could get violent.

Israeli on Israeli violence is very traumatic.

[BeyondGeography]

2. So younger people vote?

[LeftishBrit]

3. Ooh, hope so, fingers tightly crossed!

That would mean two far-right warmongers (Bush and Ahmadinejad) replaced in less than a year... Now if we could also find a way to halt the moves to the right in Europe, there might even start being some hope for the world!

Fingers and toes crossed for Iran!!!

[OKNancy]

4. It's been updated!!

Update | 12:22 p.m. My colleague in Tehran, Nazila Fathi, writes that the turnout is feeding rumors in Tehran that a landslide may be if the offing. Here’s her report for The Lede:

Iranians went to the polls in large numbers Friday, prompting speculations that the large turnout could help moderate politician, Mir Hussein Moussavi, sweep to a landslide victory.

For many voters the choice was between incumbent president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Mr. Moussavi. Two other candidates, a former speaker of Parliament, Mehdi Karoubi, and a former head of the revolutionary Guards, Mohsen Rezaee, were also in the race. But Mr. Moussavi’s campaign had staged massive street rallies in Tehran and other large cities in the past week. He promised more social and political freedom, a better economy and better relations with the world.

Voters showed up at the polls today at early hours immediately after they opened at 8 a.m. local time. Many carried pens with them because of a widely circulated text message that urged supporters of Mr. Moussavi to write with their own pens. The message said that the ink used in the pens at the polling station could get wiped out. The government cut off text-messaging service today because of such rumors.

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rest at link the OP posted

[Schema Thing]

5. Am I naive to think there is a strong Obama effect happening here? n/t

[grantcart]

6. great update

[DCBob]

7. This never would have happened if McCain was President.

McCain would probably be in a pissing match with Ahmadinejad and on the verge of nuclear war and the Iranian people would likely side with their old hard-core leader if felt threatened by the US.

[Cha]

10. Of course not..freakin' warmongers

in the USA would need the hard liners in the Mideast.

[leftynyc]

9. Great News!!!

I'm not sure where he's getting his information from so don't know how much stock to put in this but I sure hope he's right.

[Cha]

11. This is nerve wracking!

Like World Peace nerve wracking:bounce:

[SuperTrouper]

13. A med school classmate living in Baku, Azerbaijan just called me...they are preparing

for a big Moussavi victory in neighboring Iran. Many Iranians living in Baku have voted for the Green Ribbons or returned to Tehran to vote Ahmadineocon out! Here is hoping for great news tonight. The young Iranians need a victory to open the door to modernism in their country. Even if the mullahs still have power, they have to abide by the result or risk being tossed out, too. If Moussavi wins, I will have to add Tehran to my future travel plans. ;)