UNITED FRONT:

Iran`s Khatami Withdraws From Presidential Vote (Javno, March 16, 2009)

"He has decided to withdraw ... but he will back another moderate candidate who will be announced shortly in a statement by Khatami," one close ally, who declined to be named, told Reuters. [...]

Another ally said Khatami pulled out from the race because of his desire to unite the reformist front against Ahmadinejad, a conservative politician who often rails against the West.

"For the sake of the reformist front ... and to avoid splitting the vote, Khatami withdrew," said the other ally, who also asked not to be named before the statement was published.

Khatami's aides did not name the politician who Khatami would back but the former president had a meeting with another moderate candidate, former prime minister Mirhossein Mousavi, on Sunday.

Mousavi's office said Khatami backed Mousavi's candidacy and his withdrawal was aimed at "not depriving Mousavi of much-needed votes".