Elections underway in Iran

Elections to Iran's Assembly of Experts and municipalities began, making them a real popularity test for President Ahmadinejad.

Elections to Iran's Assembly of Experts and municipalities began on Friday, making them a real popularity test for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad since his election last year.

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The 86-member Assembly of Experts has the power to appoint, supervise and even oust Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khomenei, who constitutionally has the final say on all state affairs.

Fifteen seats are at stake for the Tehran city council, currently in the hands of the Abadgaran (Development) Party, of which Ahmadinejad is a senior member.

Over 46 million of the total 70 million Iranians are eligible to vote in both elections.

According to the interior ministry, 65,000 ballot boxes have been set up and 250,000 inspectors will supervise the elections, after the opposition voiced worry about the possibility of election fraud.