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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Iranian polls to test Ahmadinejad | Iranian polls to test Ahmadinejad |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Iranians have begun to vote in two elections seen as the first test of public support for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad since he came to power. | |
| Voters will elect new local councils and a powerful clerical body known as the Assembly of Experts. | |
| Reformists are hoping for a comeback following comprehensive defeats by conservatives in recent years. | Reformists are hoping for a comeback following comprehensive defeats by conservatives in recent years. |
| Both camps have run campaigns urging voters to turn out. Around 46.5 million Iranians are eligible to vote. | Both camps have run campaigns urging voters to turn out. Around 46.5 million Iranians are eligible to vote. |
| The BBC's Roger Hardy says there has traditionally been a low turn-out for the assembly elections, with many Iranians scarcely aware of its deliberations. | The BBC's Roger Hardy says there has traditionally been a low turn-out for the assembly elections, with many Iranians scarcely aware of its deliberations. |
| I will vote for Ahmadinejad's supporters... We need to give him time to deliver on his promises Hasan Alimardani Taxi driver Who runs Iran? | |
| In theory, the Assembly of Experts is the most powerful body in Iran's complex network of religious institutions. | |
| Its job is to elect, dismiss and supervise Iran's top political figure, the Supreme Leader - currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. | |
| The reformists are barely present in the assembly race, because candidates must be passed by a conservative panel. | The reformists are barely present in the assembly race, because candidates must be passed by a conservative panel. |
| So analysts are watching to see whether the body will be dominated by conservatives aligned with Mr Ahmadinejad or pragmatists close to the former president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, our correspondent adds. | So analysts are watching to see whether the body will be dominated by conservatives aligned with Mr Ahmadinejad or pragmatists close to the former president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, our correspondent adds. |
| 'Don't boycott polls' | 'Don't boycott polls' |
| The local council elections, in contrast, are likely to witness a higher turnout and will provide a clearer reflection of trends in public opinion, analysts believe. | The local council elections, in contrast, are likely to witness a higher turnout and will provide a clearer reflection of trends in public opinion, analysts believe. |
| IRANIAN ELECTIONS Iranians are voting in two sets of electionsAssembly of Experts poll: Powerful clerical body which supervises the Supreme LeaderLocal council polls: More than 250,000 candidates for around 100,000 seats nationwide46.5 million eligible voters | IRANIAN ELECTIONS Iranians are voting in two sets of electionsAssembly of Experts poll: Powerful clerical body which supervises the Supreme LeaderLocal council polls: More than 250,000 candidates for around 100,000 seats nationwide46.5 million eligible voters |
| Reformists are hoping for gains after being roundly defeated in polls in 2003. | Reformists are hoping for gains after being roundly defeated in polls in 2003. |
| Turn-out then was very low, and both sides have been running campaigns to encourage people to cast their votes. | Turn-out then was very low, and both sides have been running campaigns to encourage people to cast their votes. |
| "Boycotting elections has not worked in previous elections, please vote for the reformist candidates," a reformist campaign text message said. | "Boycotting elections has not worked in previous elections, please vote for the reformist candidates," a reformist campaign text message said. |
| But many are backing the conservatives. | But many are backing the conservatives. |
| "I think Ahmadinejad supporters will win," Mohsen Jahanian, a political science teacher, told Reuters news agency. "Iranians still do not trust reformists to vote for them." | "I think Ahmadinejad supporters will win," Mohsen Jahanian, a political science teacher, told Reuters news agency. "Iranians still do not trust reformists to vote for them." |
| "I will vote for Ahmadinejad's supporters," said taxi driver Hasan Alimardani. | |
| "He is the people's man, he goes to remote places and sees the problems at first hand. We need to give him time to deliver on his promises." | |
| The municipal council race in Tehran will be keenly watched as a barometer of political sentiment. Reformists dominated the council until 2003, but conservatives currently hold all the seats. | The municipal council race in Tehran will be keenly watched as a barometer of political sentiment. Reformists dominated the council until 2003, but conservatives currently hold all the seats. |
| Reformists are hoping to win some seats, while two competing conservative factions - one loyal to Mr Ahmadinejad and the other to Tehran's current mayor, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf - are challenging each other. | Reformists are hoping to win some seats, while two competing conservative factions - one loyal to Mr Ahmadinejad and the other to Tehran's current mayor, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf - are challenging each other. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad emphasised the importance of the elections on Iranian TV. | Mr Ahmadinejad emphasised the importance of the elections on Iranian TV. |
| "I am certain that our dear people will be present on the scene tomorrow and will demonstrate their grandeur and honour to the world," he said. | "I am certain that our dear people will be present on the scene tomorrow and will demonstrate their grandeur and honour to the world," he said. |