DATE=5/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAN VOTE / POLL (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262043
BYLINE=DALE GAVLAK
DATELINE=KARAJ, IRAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Iranians voted today (Friday) in a second
round of parliamentary elections. Reformers were
hoping to build on February's landslide victory. Dale
Gavlak visited a mosque in Karaj [pron: `KAHR-azh] to
sample voter opinion.
TEXT:
/// SFX: MOSQUE POLLING STATION, CALL TO PRAYER ///
Turnout was light at the mosque in Karaj, 50
kilometers west of Tehran. The reform movement is
fearful that discouraged supporters did not come out
to vote, thereby leaving many constituencies open to
their well-organized conservative rivals.
But university student Esam Nazim is optimistic that
reformers will have the ultimate parliamentary
victory.
/// NAZIM ACT ///
The next parliament is not for the
conservatives. They don't have the power to say
to the people of Iran to be quiet. They can't
say that, of course. This parliament will be
opened [convened], I am sure you will see.
/// END ACT ///
Reformers also fear that hard-liners may angle to try
to delay the opening of Iran's parliament.
Conservatives have controlled the legislature since
the 1979 Islamic revolution. But analysts say they
have lost touch with Iran's youth, who are supporting
President Mohamed Khatami's reform policies.
A conservative voter at the polling station, Mohamed
Javad, says there is no such thing as a reform
movement in Iran.
/// JAVAD ACT IN FARSI-ESTABLISH & FADE UNDER ///
He says people outside of Iran are trying to create a
schism between right and left. He adds that the only
reform happened at the time of the Islamic revolution.
But Mullah Ali, an Islamic cleric voting at the
mosque, disagrees. He speaks through a translator:
/// ALI / TRANSLATOR ACT ///
The Islamic Revolution is shedding skin like a
snake.
/// END ACT ///
Mullah Ali says that many Iranians are advocating
reform, but at a moderate pace.
There were no run-off elections in Tehran, where the
hard-line Guardians' Council has yet to declare final
results. Initial findings showed that all but one of
30 seats went to reformers in the capital. Stunned by
the reformists' landslide victory in the first round
of balloting, analysts say the hard-liners annulled 12
of the results and may still try to refuse others.
(Signed)
NEB/DG/GE/WTW
05-May-2000 14:29 PM EDT (05-May-2000 1829 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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