Reuters: Iranians go to polls in test for Ahmadinejad

[Eugene]

Iranians go to polls in test for Ahmadinejad

By Edmund Blair
Reuters
Friday, December 15, 2006; 1:13 AM

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranians started voting on Friday for local councils and
a powerful clerical body in the first electoral test for President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad and his allies since he swept to office in 2005.

The vote for city and rural councils and the Assembly of Experts, in theory
the most powerful institution in the Islamic Republic, will show if the
president's rivals are regaining popularity even if the results have no direct
impact on policy.

Ahmadinejad's anti-Western and anti-Israel statements have caused alarm
in the West. Any indication his popularity is waning is likely to be taken
as a welcome sign among Western countries worried about Iran's nuclear
ambitions.

-snip-

Results may not be released until late on Sunday.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/15/AR2006121500078.html

[Kagemusha]

1. Guess he's not holding a Holocaust conference for his health.

So good of the media to point out that ulterior motive. Oh wait, they didn't bother..

[Eugene]

2. Reuters: Early signs mixed in Iran vote

Early signs mixed in Iran vote
Sat Dec 16, 2006 2:44 PM GMT

By Alireza Ronaghi

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran said on Saturday turnout was high in elections
for local councils and a powerful clerical body, with some initial reports
suggesting allies of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad might not have won
resounding backing.

But analysts said it was too early to see a clear trend in Friday's vote,
the first popularity test for Ahmadinejad since he took office last year.

-snip-

Full article: http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?storyid=2006-12-16T144438Z_01_L15713249_RTRUKOC_0_UK-IRAN-ELECTIONS.xml

[ctaylor721a]

3. Interesting Barometer

I know Ahmadinejad was unable to get a majority of supporters on the secretive panel of experts that direct Iran, along with the "Supreme Guide". He was hoping to do so in order to have the upperhand on Khomeini. Interesting to see what Iranians think of him and how much it differs from the West.