Leader hails record turnout in presidential vote

Leader hails record turnout in presidential vote
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution has hailed the high voter turnout in Iran, calling on the entire nation to support the president-elect in achieving his mandate.

Speaking one day after Super Friday when more than 32 million people cast their votes in the country's 10th presidential election, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei congratulated the nation on their massive turnout.

"The participation of over 80 percent of Iranians at the polls and the 24-million votes cast is a cause for true celebration and god willing this will ensure the continuation of the country's progress and the maintenance of national security," Ayatollah Khamenei said in statement.

Friday's election witnessed incumbent Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad win 24.5 million of the votes -- nearly 62 percent.

Mir-Hossein Moussavi came second with 13.2 million votes, followed by Mohsen Rezaei with more than 630 thousand votes and Mehdi Karroubi with 320 thousand votes.

"The spirit of calm presented by the nation, in the face of enemy propaganda and the nation's mass participation was such that makes it indescribable in words," the Leader added.

The president-elect is the president of the entire Iranian nation and even those who were his rivals yesterday must now support and aid him, as this is a divine test for us all, Ayatollah Khamenei said.

In UK, MPs jostle for Speaker's chair

In UK, MPs jostle for Speaker's chair
The race over UK's next parliamentary speaker is well under way with the Conservatives claiming it's their turn to replace former speaker Michael Martin.

At least ten MPs are bid to stand for the elections to choose the next speaker of the House of Commons, to take over Martin's place who resigned over the expense claims scandals.

Although traditionally the role of the speaker is independent, each party prefers the incumbent to be from its own colors.

From the ruling Labour party, the former foreign minister Margaret Beckett and Parmjit Dhanda are in the running.

From the opposition's benches, John Bercow, Ann Widdicombe, Sir Patrick Cormack, Sir Alan Haselhurst, Sir Michael Lord, Richard Shepherd are the Conservative MPs said to be vying for the Speaker's vacant chair.

Form the Liberal Democrats, Sir Alan Beith has definitely thrown in his hat and he may be joined in the race by the former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell.

Miss Widdicombe who is said to be Conservatives' charismatic candidate said: "We have got to restore the reputation of the House of Commons with the public and that means somebody who can connect with the public, which I believe I can do very well."

UK's House of Commons is under fire after losing public trust following disclosures of extravagant expenses claimed by many MPs, which forced a number of them to resign and caused a government reshuffle on the Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The last speaker was forced to resign, as it was revealed that his office did not keep a close enough eye on the MPs' expenses claims, as it should have done.

The vote to choose the Commons' next speaker is scheduled for June 22 and it will be done by secret ballots.