Karroubi recognizes Ahmadinejad as Iran 'president'

Iranian opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi who had refused to accept the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, now recognizes the hardliner as the country's "president", Karroubi's son told AFP on Monday.

Hossein Karroubi quoted his father as saying: "I am still of the same belief that the election was unhealthy and massively rigged. But since the (supreme) leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) endorsed (Ahmadinejad's victory), I believe that he is the head of the government, meaning he is the president."

Hossein spoke to AFP when asked to confirm an earlier report by Fars news agency quoting his father in which he acknowledged Ahmadinejad as the president.

Fars asked the opposition leader whether he now acknowledges Ahmadinejad as the president.

The ex-speaker of parliament, who came fourth in the disputed June 12 presidential election, replied: "I still maintain that there were problems (in the election), but with regard to your question, I should say that I recognize the president."