Ahmadinejad says Iran election free, democratic

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, despite accusations to the contrary by the opposition, said Saturday that the country's presidential election was free and democratic.

Opposition candidate Mir-Hossein Moussavi and related political parties and groups accuse Ahmadinejad and his government of fraud in the polling and counting process that led to a purported landslide victory for the incumbent president.

"Almost 40 million people attended the free election and passed a huge democratic test in front of the whole world and chose the path of awakening, pride and dignity," Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech on the occasion of his re-election.

"The people could have voted for the return to the past but they voted for the look ahead and the step towards the future," he said.

The Interior Ministry has rejected all fraud charges by the opposition and said that complaints should be sent to the ministry through legal channels.

"I will not retreat one step from my principles and not give in to any compromises," the president said.

Ahmadinejad said before the election that Iran would no longer engage itself in negotiations with the world powers over the nuclear dispute and said Iran's only contact address would be the International Atomic Energy Agency.  (dpa)