| 17.03.2009 | 09:00 UTC
Khatami quits presidential race, supports Moussavi
Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has pulled out of the June 12 election and thrown his support behind former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Moussavi. Khatami made the announcement in a statement posted on his website. The two candidates had similar platforms, and observers believed they could have split the moderate vote. The conservative faction has named President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as its sole candidate. The 65-year-old Khatami held office as Iran's president from 1997 to 2005.
