Iran elections seen as major tests for President Ahmadinejad

Teheran (dpa) - The Experts' Assembly and municipality elections started Friday in Tehran, marking the first real popularity tests for Iranian President Mamoud Ahmadinejad since his election last year.

The 86-member Assembly of Experts has the power to appoint, supervise and even oust Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who constitutionally has the final say on all state affairs.

Fifteen seats are at stake for the Tehran city council, currently in the hands of the Abadgaran (Development) Party, of which Ahmadinejad is a senior member.

More than 46 million of the total 70 million Iranians are eligible to vote in both elections.

According to the Interior Ministry, 65,000 ballot boxes have been set up and 250,000 inspectors will supervise the elections, after the opposition voiced worry about election fraud. // © 2006 DPA

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