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Iranian polls: Conservatives admit defeat in Tehran

TEHRAN: Conservatives admitted defeat at the hands of reformist allies of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami in the parliamentary polls in the capital.

"Our predictions for the provinces have come true, but I think the results are not as we thought in Tehran," newspapers on Sunday quoted Mohammadreza Bahonar, the leader of a right-wing alliance, as saying.

Results from the nationwide elections for Friday's polls have been published for most provinces, but officials say those for Tehran, which has 10 million people, will take a few days.

But newspapers said reformist candidates were leading in the capital, most of them from the Islamic Participation Front, led by the president's brother, Reza Khatami.

Among the frunt-runners is Alireza Nouri, the brother of Abdollah Nouri, who is jailed for his outspoken views on reform. They also include Ahmad Bourqani, former culture ministry official who launched the new tradition of freer press in Iran.

Reformers are also leading by a wide margin in other major cities, including central Isfahan, southern Shiraz and the holy city of Mashhad.

With about two-thirds of votes counted nationwide, reformers have won 86 seats in the new, expanded 290-seat parliament, to convene in May.

Rightists trail with 40 seats and independents with 36. About 50 seats have gone to a run-off in late April.

The elections were seen as a referendum on Khatami's liberal reforms, which have been facing stiff opposition from hardliners.

Officials say at least 80 percent of the electorate voted in the polls, including more than 70 percent in Tehran.

"The message of reform has been heard and understood even in remotest regions of the country. We should hasten to apply reforms quickly. Tomorrow is too late," said the newspaper Iran, run by the official IRNA news agency.-Reuters