Gibbs changes words on Ahmadinejad

White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs has withdrawn remarks made on Tuesday that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is the “elected leader of Iran.”

“Let me correct a little bit of what I said yesterday. I denoted that Mr. Ahmadinejad was the elected leader of Iran. I would say that is not for me to pass judgment on,” The Times quoted Gibbs as saying on Tuesday.

Iran’s 10th presidential election on June 12 gave Ahmadinejad another term in office.

After the disputed election, supporters of the defeated candidates took to the streets to protest against the results.

The Guardian Council, which oversees the election, reviewed complaints about the election and approved the election results.

Ahmadinejad took the oath of office in Majlis (Iran’s parliament) for a second term on Wednesday.