Iranian voters go to the polls - Middle East - World - The Independent

Iran has begun run-off elections for more than one-fifth of parliamentary seats.

Today's report on state TV said 130 hopefuls will compete for 65 seats in 33 constituencies including the capital Tehran with 25 undecided seats.

Out of 50 hopefuls in Tehran, 29 are from opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Tehran has 30 representatives in the 290-seat parliament. Five of them were decided in the first round.

Conservative opponents of Mr Ahmadinejad have already won a majority of seats of the new parliament in the first round of the elections in March.

The parliament has no direct control over major policy matters like Iran's nuclear programme, but it can influence the run-up to the election of a successor to Mr Ahmadinejad next year.

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