Final results released by Iran's Interior Ministry showed on Thursday that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's conservative camp had been defeated by his opponents in elections held last week.

According to the published figures, moderate conservative mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf's camp won eight seats of 15 at Tehran city council, reformers got four, Ahmadinejad's followers two and one went to independent.

President Ahmadinejad's loyalists have suffered a stinging defeat at the hands of moderate conservatives and reformists in elections for Tehran city council, media reports said.

The result of Tehran city council election has been delay for several days to be published.
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Similar result was visible in the final results of an election for the Assembly of Experts, where Expediency Council Chairman and centrist Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani defeated Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, who was widely recognized as Ahmadinejad's spiritual mentor.

Elections of the 4th Assembly of Experts and 3rd local councils were held on Dec. 15. The government has been cheering on the strong turnout of 60 percent in both elections, compared with the low turnout in the last assembly vote in 1998 of only 46 percent.

The Assembly of Experts has the power to elect, dismiss and supervise Iran's chief, the supreme leader.

Some 493 people had registered for elections of the assembly this time but only 165 were qualified to compete for the 86-seat assembly.

The local councils have a major impact on people's day-to-day lives through the public services they enjoy. Some 230,000 candidates have been confirmed qualifications to run for 5,400 city posts and the rest 108,000 rural posts.

(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2006)

 

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