Ahmadinejad popularity tested in Iran vote

TEHRAN, Dec 15 (Reuters) Iranians today voted for local councils and a powerful clerical body in elections that will give the first indication of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's popularity since he swept to office in 2005.

The votes for municipal councillors and members of the Assembly of Experts, in theory Iran's most powerful institution, will show if the president's reformist rivals are making any inroads even if these results have no direct impact on policy.

Polling stations are due to close at 7.00 p.m. 21:00 IST.

Officials say results may not be released until late on Sunday.

Much may depend on the turnout of Iran's 46.5 million eligible voters. Iran's pro-reform movement, drubbed when many of their supporters stayed home in the 2003 councils race, has been trying to mobilise voters this time.

''Many people may not come to vote today but I have come and have voted to stop the conservatives from taking over the city council,'' Raihaneh Pajvak, 29, said in wealthy north Tehran.

Anecdotal evidence at several voting stations in the capital, the main battleground, suggested voting was reasonably brisk. State media said turnout was high but gave no figures.

''I am not amazed by the turnout, but it's good. My feeling is this year's race for the council elections is pretty hot,'' said a Tehran polling station official who declined to be named.

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