Iranian election fraud: leaked letter suggests Khamenei chose Ahmadinejad

Marjane Satrapi and Mohsen Makhmalbaf speaking to MEPs of the Green Party in the European Parliament said that rival presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi was told by officials on the day of the election that he had won the contest.

However later, as he was writing his victory speech, military officials "declared that this green democratic revolution is not going to happen and made a coup". Subsequently official results declaring Mr Ahmadinejad the winner were announced on state media.

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At the meeting of MEPs the film makers presented a letter which purports to be from the Minister Interior to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. The letter suggests that Mr Mousavi was the true victor and that the election was rigged to ensure Mr Ahmadinejad won.

The letter reads, "Following your concerns regarding the results of the presidential election and per your given discretion to have Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad remain as president during this sensitive juncture. Therefore, everything has been planned in a way that the public announcement will be made in accordance with the interests of the regime and the revolution."

According to the letter Mousavi came first with over 19 million votes, whilst Mr Ahmadinejad came third with a five and a half million votes.

The letter is reported to have been leaked by Mohammed Asgari who was responsible for IT security at the Interior ministry. Mr Asgari has subsequently been killed in a suspicious car accident.

The authenticity of the letter has not yet been verified.