Iran begins runoff parliamentary elections

Iranian voters headed to the polls on Friday for a second round of parliamentary elections that are likely to see conservative opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad consolidate their hold on the legislature.       

State TV said that 130 candidates are competing in run-off elections for 65 still-undecided seats in the 290-member parliament, including 25 of the 30 seats in the capital Tehran.       

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

Iran has touted the voter turnout  officially, 64 percent in the first round  as a sign of trust in the clerical-led system and a rejection of Western pressure over the country's controversial nuclear program.       

"My advice is that people to take the runoff serious as the first round" said Khamenei said in comments carried live by television after he cast his vote.       

The new parliament will begin its work late May. It has no direct control over major policy matters like Iran's nuclear program, but it can influence the selection of Ahmedinejad's successor and other top officials.  

AP