Ahmadinejad allies defeated in key election

TEHRAN: Allies of hardline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmmadinejad have reportedly suffered a stinging defeat in elections for Tehran's city council, losing to moderate conservative and reformist forces.

Although final results have still to be published five days after the vote, returns on 80 per cent of ballots show that allies of moderate Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf are set to win a clear majority.

The Tehran count is the last result due from Friday's nationwide elections for municipal councils and for the clerical Assembly of Experts in the first major test of popularity for Ahmadinejad since he swept to power in 2005.

Allies of Qalibaf, a technocratic moderate conservative, were set to win eight seats on the 15-member body, bolstered by the win of an independent loyal to the mayor. Reformers were set to gain four seats and Ahmadinejad allies two.

The candidates running in the top two places were the city council's current head, Mehdi Chamran, and ex-Tehran police chief Morteza Talaie, both allies of Qalibaf.

Another feature was the success of high-profile sportsmen, with seats set to go to reformist Olympic taekwondo champion Hadi Saei and two former world wrestling champions. Ahmadinejad's sister Parvine was running in ninth place.