Local elections in Iran have delivered a major boost to conservatives in the Islamic Republic, initial results show.
According to partial counts, conservative candidates are set to win 14 out of 15 council seats in the capital Tehran, IRNA news agency quoted the city's governor as saying.
This would be a blow to reformist President Mohammad Khatami, for whom the nationwide city and village council elections have been seen as a test of his six years in office.
However, the turnout in Tehran was low. Tehran's governor, Ali-Owsat Hashemi, put the average turnout at the Friday elections in Tehran at 25 percent. One electoral official quoted by IRNA said turnout in the city may have been as little as 15 percent. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
