This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7297923.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Hard-liners 'dominate Iran poll' Hard-liners dominate Iran polls
(about 11 hours later)
Hard-line allies of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are ahead in Iran's parliamentary election, partial results suggest. Hard-line allies of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will retain control of the assembly, partial results from Iran's parliamentary election suggest.
But conservative critics of Mr Ahmadinejad also appear to be making a strong showing that could undermine his domination of the parliament.But conservative critics of Mr Ahmadinejad also appear to be making a strong showing that could undermine his domination of the parliament.
Reformists are said to be struggling after large numbers of their candidates were barred from the race. Reformists also hailed successes, despite the barring of large numbers of their candidates from the race.
The United States says this means the results were "cooked". The US says the candidate vetting means the results were "cooked".
The Associated Press (AP) news agency reports that 144 out of 290 parliamentary seats have been decided so far. The Associated Press (AP) news agency reports that 158 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. Quoting state television and official news agency IRNA, AP says pro-Ahmadinejad politicians have won 57 seats, reformists 24, and conservative critics of Mr Ahmadinejad 40.
Independents whose political leanings were not immediately known claimed the remaining 35, the agency says. Independents whose political leanings were not immediately known claimed the remaining 37, the agency says.
An Iranian official claimed that Friday's turnout was as high as 65%, the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran reports. 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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7293125.stm">Analysis: Election foretold class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7279003.stm">Iran in facts and figures class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7295972.stm">In pictures: Iran votes Races for 30 seats were due to go to a run-off vote, it reported.
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. One minister estimated that conservatives would win more than 70% of the seats.
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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7293125.stm">Analysis: Election foretold class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7279003.stm">Iran in facts and figures class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7295972.stm">In pictures: Iran votes A spokesman for the main reformist bloc, Abdollah Nasseri, said its candidates - including sympathetic independents - had won 34 seats outside Tehran, and were leading in 15 of the races going to a run-off.
The results from the 30 races in Tehran - where more reformist candidates were allowed to stand - are expected on Sunday or Monday.
If Mr Nasseri's predictions are correct, and if reformists do well in Tehran, they may increase the 40 seats they currently hold in the parliament.
Correspondents say that the reasonably strong showing among Mr Ahmadinejad's critics - both reformists and conservative - means that President Ahmadinejad could be given a rougher ride as he prepares to run for re-election in a year's time.
Real winners
The Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi said around 60% of voters turned out, up from 51 percent in 2004 election
But the BBC's John Leyne says that many observers will be sceptical as polling stations in the capital were not busy.
It is Iran's eighth parliamentary poll since its 1979 Islamic revolutionMany people said they felt there was nothing or no-one to vote for, he says.
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.
President 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 winners Reformists said the election was 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.
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. Many reformist 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. They 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. The election will shape the political map ahead of 2009's presidential poll.
Some analysts expected 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 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 nuclear The likely effect of a further increase in conservative self-confidence, our correspondent says, would 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.
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.