Khatami withdraws from race in Iran

TEHRAN, March 17 (UPI) -- Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami issued a statement announcing his withdrawal from the 2009 presidential race.

Khatami's statement read, in part, "I announce my withdrawal from candidacy," the Fars news agency reported Tuesday.

Several media reports indicated Khatami said he was pulling out of the race to support a political ally's bid to unseat Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is expected to seek re-election, The New York Times reported.

"He does not want to compete with Mir-Hussein Mousavi," political analyst Saeed Leylaz told the Times, referring to a former prime minister who said he would seek the presidency. "The most important goal is to prevent Mr. Ahmadinejad from re-election, not to get Mr. Khatami elected. The chances of getting a reformist president elected would decrease if we have several candidates running."

Khatami was president of Iran from 1997-2005. Mousavi was the country's prime minister from 1980-88.

The presidential election is June 12.