Ahmadinejad Rivals Lead in Parliamentary Vote

Partial results from Iran's parliamentary elections show loyalist supporters of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei have taken the lead.

Early returns from provincial towns Saturday show conservative rivals of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad winning seats in several constituencies across the country.

State media estimate the turnout at more than 65 percent of the country's 48 million eligible voters.

The election will have little impact on Iran's foreign or nuclear polices, but will strengthen Mr. Khamenei's position ahead of next years presidential election.

The vote is seen as a limited test of Iran's political climate as the country's main opposition and reformist groups boycotted Friday's election, the first since the disputed 2009 presidential vote.

Final results are expected early next week.

Some 3,400 candidates ran for seats in the 290-member parliament. Among the candidates was Mr. Ahmadinejad's sister, Parvin Ahmadinejad, who failed to secure a seat in their hometown, Garmsar. ---VOA News