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Iran polls vote count under way Hard-liners 'dominate Iran poll'
(about 9 hours later)
Vote counting is under way in Iran after parliamentary elections which conservatives are expected to win after many reformists were barred. Hard-line allies of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are ahead in Iran's parliamentary election, partial results suggest.
Partial results from 32 of the 290 seats at stake showed candidates allied to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad leading, the Associated Press reported. But conservative critics of Mr Ahmadinejad also appear to be making a strong showing that could undermine his domination of the parliament.
Hardliners were set to win 19 seats, reformists eight and moderate conservatives five, the agency said. Reformists are said to be struggling after large numbers of their candidates were barred from the race.
Many candidates opposed to Mr Ahmadinejad were barred from standing. The United States says this means the results were "cooked".
An Iranian official claimed that turnout had been as high as 65%, the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran reports. The Associated Press (AP) news agency reports that 144 out of 290 parliamentary seats have been decided so far.
Quoting state television, official news agency IRNA and reports from local officials, AP says pro-Ahmadinejad politicians have won 53 seats, reformists 18, and conservative critics of Mr Ahmadinejad 38.
Independents whose political leanings were not immediately known claimed the remaining 35, the agency says.
An Iranian official claimed that Friday's turnout was as high as 65%, the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran reports.
But our correspondent says that polling stations in the capital were not busy, and many people said they felt there was nothing or no-one to vote for.But our correspondent says that polling stations in the capital were not busy, and many people said they felt there was nothing or no-one to vote for.
IRANIAN POLL Eighth parliamentary election since 1979 revolution43 million eligible voters290 seats from 30 provincesAbout 40% of those who applied to stand disqualified by the Guardian Council Analysis: Election foretoldIran in facts and figuresIn pictures: Iran votesIRANIAN POLL Eighth parliamentary election since 1979 revolution43 million eligible voters290 seats from 30 provincesAbout 40% of those who applied to stand disqualified by the Guardian Council Analysis: Election foretoldIran in facts and figuresIn pictures: Iran votes
The Iranian authorities had called for a big turnout to defy the US and other countries they say are Iran's enemies.The Iranian authorities had called for a big turnout to defy the US and other countries they say are Iran's enemies.
The election will shape the political map ahead of 2009's presidential poll.The election will shape the political map ahead of 2009's presidential poll.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad flew in from an Islamic summit in Senegal to cast his vote. President Ahmadinejad flew in from an Islamic summit in Senegal to cast his vote.
He said the world had chosen Iran as its "role model and saviour".He said the world had chosen Iran as its "role model and saviour".
Real winnersReal winners
The reformists seem to have given up the fight after many of their candidates were disqualified on the grounds of alleged lack of loyalty to Islamic values, says our correspondent.The reformists seem to have given up the fight after many of their candidates were disqualified on the grounds of alleged lack of loyalty to Islamic values, says our correspondent.
It is Iran's eighth parliamentary poll since its 1979 Islamic revolutionThey made up the bulk of about 1,700 candidates barred from running by Iran's Guardian Council - an unelected body of clerics and jurists that vets election candidates.It is Iran's eighth parliamentary poll since its 1979 Islamic revolutionThey made up the bulk of about 1,700 candidates barred from running by Iran's Guardian Council - an unelected body of clerics and jurists that vets election candidates.
The Guardian Council has denied bias.The Guardian Council has denied bias.
Analysts expect the poll's real winners to be former members of the hardline Revolutionary Guards, who could replace the Muslim clergy as the biggest force in the assembly.Analysts expect the poll's real winners to be former members of the hardline Revolutionary Guards, who could replace the Muslim clergy as the biggest force in the assembly.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could also gain strength if, as forecast, a new younger generation of hard-line loyalists gains positions of power.Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could also gain strength if, as forecast, a new younger generation of hard-line loyalists gains positions of power.
Going nuclearGoing nuclear
The likely effect of a further increase in conservative self-confidence, our correspondent says, will be even less chance of compromise over Iran's nuclear programme, and a yet more assertive foreign policy.The likely effect of a further increase in conservative self-confidence, our correspondent says, will be even less chance of compromise over Iran's nuclear programme, and a yet more assertive foreign policy.
It is thought the reformists may struggle to hang on to the 40 or so seats they hold in the assembly.It is thought the reformists may struggle to hang on to the 40 or so seats they hold in the assembly.
They say the election is unfair but still urged Iran's 44 million eligible voters to turn out for the country's eighth parliamentary elections since its 1979 Islamic revolution.They say the election is unfair but still urged Iran's 44 million eligible voters to turn out for the country's eighth parliamentary elections since its 1979 Islamic revolution.
President Ahmadinejad's political opponents blame him for the three rounds of sanctions imposed on Iran by the United Nations over its nuclear programme.President Ahmadinejad's political opponents blame him for the three rounds of sanctions imposed on Iran by the United Nations over its nuclear programme.
The US, Israel and key Western powers accuse Iran of attempting to build a nuclear bomb, but Tehran insists it is only enriching uranium for a civilian energy programme.The US, Israel and key Western powers accuse Iran of attempting to build a nuclear bomb, but Tehran insists it is only enriching uranium for a civilian energy programme.