Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated for second presidential term in Iran

In Iran today, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was inaugurated for his second term as President of the Islamic Republic.  Ahmadinejad made an oath of allegiance in front of Iran´s parliament in Tehran, promising to serve the people, to support justice and to uphold the Iranian constitution.

As the President made his oath, hundreds of riot police were deployed to stop a planned protest outside Iran´s parliament.  Opposition candidate Mir Hussein Moussavi is still challenging the June election results, accusing Ahmadinejad of rigging the polls. Hundreds have been imprisoned for protesting the elections results over the past month and today´s inauguration was boycotted by all of Iran´s reformist parliamentarians and influential political figures like former President Mohammed Khatami.

Ahmadinejad is facing opposition within conservative circles as well and political analysts say the president has a rough ride ahead. Some speculate he may not finish his second term.

FSRN contacted Iran expert Muhammad Sahimi to discuss Wednesday´s events and Iranian politics.  Sahimi has written about Iranian politics for 15 years and he currently works for Tehranbureau.com.  FSRN asked Sahimi for his impressions on Ahmadinejad´s boycotted inauguration.