TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- As Iran extended the deadline Tuesday to file complaints about the disputed presidential election, one candidate lashed out at the hardline government while another went the opposite direction and withdrew his accusations. Opposition candidate Mehdi Karroubi, a reformist, has strongly criticized Iran's state-controlled media. Opposition candidate Mehdi Karroubi strongly criticized Iran's state-controlled media and supporters of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, likening them to the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan. Karroubi, in a letter addressed to the head of state-run radio and television, scolded Iranian media for blaming recent violence and chaos on the demonstrators who took to the streets after the results of what they believed were fraudulent elections on June 12.
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NEW: Mehdi Karroubi also likens Ahmadinejad supporters to Taliban
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NEW: Karroubi scolds media for blaming violence and chaos on demonstrators
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Mohsen Rezaie withdraws recount demand due to "critical," "pivotal" conditions
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Iran extends deadline for complaints regarding June 12 election
But even as the deadline was extended, another candidate, @placeholder, withdrew his earlier complaint about voting irregularities and demand for a recount of the ballots.