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Iranians vote in general election Iranians vote in general election
(about 1 hour later)
Voting has begun in Iran's elections, with conservatives expected to win after opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were barred from running.Voting has begun in Iran's elections, with conservatives expected to win after opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were barred from running.
The authorities in Tehran have called for a huge turnout in the parliamentary polls, to defy the US and other countries they say are Iran's enemies.The authorities in Tehran have called for a huge turnout in the parliamentary polls, to defy the US and other countries they say are Iran's enemies.
But the BBC's Tehran correspondent says many Iranians will choose not to cast ballots because of a lack of choice.But the BBC's Tehran correspondent says many Iranians will choose not to cast ballots because of a lack of choice.
The vote will shape Iran's political map ahead of 2009's presidential poll.The vote will shape Iran's political map ahead of 2009's presidential poll.
With most opponents of President Ahmadinejad disqualified, the only question is how seats will be shared out between competing conservatives, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran. But with such a narrow field, the only question is how seats will be shared out between competing conservatives, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran.
Giving upGiving up
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, he says. 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.
Analysts expect the real winners to be former members of the hard-line Revolutionary Guards, who could replace the Muslim clergy as the biggest force in the assembly. It is Iran's eighth parliamentary poll since its 1979 Islamic revolution
They made up the bulk of around 1,700 candidates barred from running by Iran's Guardian Council - an unelected body of clerics and jurists that vets election candidates.
Analysts expect the poll's real winners to be former members of the hard-line 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 gain positions of power.Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could also gain strength if, as forecast, a new younger generation of hard-line loyalists gain positions of power.
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.
Turnout is not expected to be much above 50% and in Tehran it could be dramatically lower, say pundits. Some 4,500 candidates nationwide are running for parliament's 290 seats.
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 have 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.
The US, Israel and key Western powers accuse Iran of attempting to build a nuclear bomb, but Tehran insists it is enriching uranium for a civilian energy programme.
With polls scheduled to close at 1800 (1430 GMT), turnout is not expected to be much above 50% and pundits say it could be dramatically lower in Tehran.