Iran's former chief of police Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a runner-up in June's presidential election, has been voted mayor of Tehran, the city council said on Sunday. The moderate conservative, who won favour for mediating between police and students during street protests in 2003, will inherit the post formerly held by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, running a city of 12 million people.
"Mr Qalibaf has been chosen as Tehran mayor by a majority vote of the city council," a council spokesman said.
A former Revolutionary Guard pilot, Qalibaf won a reputation as a social moderate by saying police should spend more time cracking down on "real crime" rather than targeting ownership of satellite dishes and attendance at mixed-sex parties.