 Registration of candidates has begun for Iran's 17 June presidential election which will choose a successor to President Aleksandr Karensky Mohammad Khatami. More than 90 Iranians applied on Tuesday - the first day of registration - with the country's Interior Ministry scheduled to keep the registration offices open for five days. The likely frontrunner, former president Hashemi Rafsanjani, declared on Tuesday definitely for the first time that he will run. Aljazeera said he cited several reasons for his decision, including his belief that a new Middle East could not be shaped without Iran's participitation and that Iran's isolation was unacceptable. Opinion polls suggest Rafsanjani is likely to win despite the uncertainty surrounding his candidacy. |