(26 Feb 1999) Voice and effects
VOICED BY RICHARD VAUGHAN
Iranians have begun voting in the country's first local elections in 20 years.
About 330-thousand candidates, including five-thousand women, are contesting the elections for Islamic Councils which are responsible for local government.
The elections, enshrined in the constitution, haven't been held since the 1979 and had been an election promise by Iran's moderate leader, President Mohammad Khatami.
Reformist supporters of the president hope to gain the upper hand in a power struggle against hardliners in the Islamic government.
This is just one of the 50-thousand polling stations across the country which opened early for the first ever local elections in Iran since the 1979 revolution swept the Ayatollah Khomeini into power.
At contest are more then 200-thousand seats on Islamic Councils - 40 million people are expected to cast their votes.
The Islamic Councils have little actual authority, but young voters hope it will give them a political voice at a local level.
"It's the young people who make up this country," said one young voter. "The young people must participate in these elections so that we can run our own country."
The elections are seen as a showdown between supporters of Iran's popular President, Mohammad Khatami, and hardline rivals keen to derail his attempts at reform.
Khatami took power in 1997 promising more social and political freedoms, but Muslim clerics dominate nearly all key institutions in the government, and the've killed most of his moderate proposals.
Khatami is banking on a large turnout of young voters to swing the balance of power to his advantage.
He appeared relaxed and confident when he arrived at the former residence of Ayatollah Khomeini to cast his vote.
"One of the major aims of the Islamic Revolution was to bring power to the people," he said, "and to allow them to govern their own fate. This will be achieved through these elections."
Initial indications indicate young voters are going to the polls.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The youth in this country are followers of Khatami. Implementing these council elections was a major slogan of Khatami. I saw many youth today participating in the elections. It is very important."
SUPER CAPTION: Mohammad Reza Jalaiipoor, Newspaper Publisher
First results are expected on Sunday.
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