Iran's Ahmadinejad to be endorsed for 2nd term

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran's Supreme Leader is to formally endorse Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president, a step leading up to his inauguration in parliament.

But the country's opposition and moderates — including former president Hashemi Rafsanjani — say they'll boycott Monday's ceremony in defiance of an election they decry as fraudulent.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's endorsement ahead of Ahmadinejad's inauguration on Wednesday comes amid growing criticism of Iran's cleric-led system.

Authorities have ruthlessly suppressed opposition protests, jailing hundreds of protesters and putting more than 100 on trial on charges of plotting to topple the regime.

The opposition maintains Ahmadinejad stole the June 12 vote from opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi through massive fraud.