Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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March 15, 2008

Iran Counting Votes in Parliamentary Elections
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B8E57C:A6F02AD83191E160FF744252535812C2C030207A0BD70133& Semi-official Fars
news agency says preliminary results show conservatives winning at
least 70 percent of seats





Iranian officials work at election headquarters in Interior Ministry
in Tehran, Iran, 15 Mar 2008Election officials in Iran are counting
votes cast in Friday's parliamentary elections, which are expected to
keep power in the hands of the country's conservative faction.

The semi-official Fars news agency says preliminary results show
conservatives winning at least 70 percent of the seats in the 290-seat
legislature. 

Government officials say more than 65 percent of Iran's 44 million
eligible voters cast ballots in the elections.

With many reformist candidates disqualified by Iran's Guardian
Council, the election came down to staunch supporters of hardline
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and conservatives who want Iran to take
a more moderate approach in dealing with the West on its controversial
nuclear program.

That faction could also challenge Mr. Ahmadinejad on his handling of
Iran's economy, which has suffered from high inflation and
unemployment, along with fuel shortages. 

In Washington, the U.S. State Department said results from the
elections were rigged, because voters were not able to cast ballots
for a full range of candidates.

Officials say it could be several days before the final vote totals
are announced.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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