Bush

a la gente de Irán:

Bush Denounces Iran's Election
President Vows to Stand by Citizenry in Struggle for Freedom

On the eve of Iran's presidential election, President Bush yesterday denounced Tehran's theocracy for manipulating the vote by eliminating candidates and ignoring the "basic requirements" of democracy. Whatever the election's outcome, power will continue to be held by "an unelected few" who are out of step with political changes sweeping the rest of the region, Bush said in a statement released by the White House.

The tough White House comment comes at a pivotal juncture in U.S.-Iranian relations and in Iran's political evolution. Seven candidates are vying today to replace President Mohammad Khatami, the reformist whose two-term tenure is ending without significantly changing the world's only modern theocracy. The next government will be in charge of negotiating with leaders of other nations on Iran's nuclear capability, a process -- currently deadlocked -- designed to ensure that Tehran cannot produce a nuclear weapon from its peaceful energy program.

Addressing the Iranian people, Bush added: "As you stand for your own liberty, the people of America stand with you."

Praising the ancient Persian civilization, Bush said Iranians deserve elections that put in power leaders who "answer to them instead of the other way around." The president also cited the "enormous gains" recently achieved in the Middle East, noting the democratic elections in Iraq and Afghanistan, which both border Iran, as well as this year's elections in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.

"Across the Middle East, hopeful change is taking place. People are claiming their liberty. And as a tide of freedom sweeps this region, it will also come eventually to Iran," Bush predicted.