Violence flares after Iran's election shock

VIOLENCE flared in Tehran yesterday after Iran declared President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner in an election that was branded a "dangerous charade" by his main opponent.

Hundreds of supporters of arch-rival Mir-Hossein Mousavi clashed with riot police as, to the astonishment of the watching world, the hardline Ahmadinejad was re-elected with a landslide 62.6 per cent, upsetting widespread expectations the contest would at least go to a second round.

The pro-reform Mousavi only polled 33.75 per cent despite being tipped as having a real chance of ending the president's four-year grip on power. A statement from Mousavi condemned what he called the "manipulation" of results.