Iran holds parliamentary elections

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Source: CCTV.com | 03-15-2008 10:20

Iranians are voting in the country's eighth parliamentary elections. Conservatives are expected to retain their control of the legislature. Over 45,000 polling stations have been set up in 207 constituencies.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad casts  his ballot in the parliamentary elections at  a mosque in south Tehran March 14, 2008. (Raheb Homavandi/Reuters)

Interior Ministry figures indicate about 4,500 candidates have been cleared to compete for the 290-seat legislature.

Just back from a summit of Islamic leaders in Senegal, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cast his vote in Tehran.

He said the Iranian nation always "goes after truth" and this attitude is the key to progress and success.

He also said everyone is aware of the significance of the elections in taking decisive positive actions for the country.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among the first to vote. He called on the people to cast their ballots and asked the candidates to fulfill their campaign promises.

Expediency Council Chairman and former President Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was also among the first to cast his ballot. He said participation in the elections is a national and Islamic duty for all Iranians.

Over the past weeks, Iranian leaders have called for a high turnout in the elections to show Western countries that the Islamic Republic is unified at a time of mounting tensions over its disputed nuclear program.

Polls opened at 8 a.m. local time on Friday morning

and were due to close at 6:00 p.m. But the deadline would be extended for a heavy turnout.

Editor:Du Xiaodan