Page "Mohammad Khatami" Paragraph 16

Running on a reform agenda, Khatami was elected president on May 23, 1997 in what many have described as a remarkable election.

Voter turnout was nearly 80 %.

Despite limited television airtime, most of which went to conservative Speaker of Parliament and favored candidate Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri, Khatami received 70 percent of the vote.

" Even in Qom, the center of theological training in Iran and a conservative stronghold, 70 % of voters cast their ballots for Khatami.

" He was re-elected on June 8, 2001 for a second term and stepped down on August 3, 2005 after serving his maximum two consecutive terms according to the Islamic Republic's constitution.