DATE=5/6/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAN ELECTION (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262064
BYLINE=LISA BRYANT
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Preliminary results indicate that reformist
candidates have swept run-off parliamentary elections
in Iran, capturing two-thirds of 66 disputed seats.
From Cairo, Lisa Bryant reports that the strengthened
moderate position comes after hard-line campaigns
against Iran's news media and an ongoing spy trial of
Iranian Jews.
TEXT: Iran's reformist movement now holds a firm
majority in the country's new 290-seat parliament that
convenes later this month.
According to local reports, at least 43 candidates
allied to Iran's pro-reform president, Mohammed
Khatami, won in the second round of parliamentary
elections held Friday. The sweep included seats in
key Iranian cities, including Tabriz in the north and
Shiraz in the south. Their win adds to the 70 percent
sweep of parliamentary seats by pro-reformist
candidates in the first round of voting in February.
In remarks to reporters, reformist leaders said their
gains came as no surprise. They said the results send
a clear signal that Iranians want an end to the
conservatives' grip on power.
But what happens next is uncertain. The election
results must be certified by Iran's conservative
Guardian Council. The council has yet to certify
results from February's elections for Tehran, in which
reformists reportedly captured 29 out of 30 seats.
The watchdog body has also changed the results of 11
other first-round races. Reformists say that in all
the cases, the changes worked against their
candidates.
Reformists have faced other serious setbacks over the
last two weeks. Conservative judges have closed 16
pro-reform publications, including a major newspaper
published by President Khatami's brother, Mohammed-
Reza Khatami. Several prominent journalists have also
been arrested and imprisoned.
Memories of another press attack resurfaced earlier
this week, with the opening of a trial against
suspects in the March shooting of prominent journalist
Saeed Hajjarian. Mr. Hajjarian is slowly recovering.
Two of the suspects, who confessed to the assault,
denied any political ties. But reformists suspect
government hard-liners may be behind the attack.
In another trial this week, three of 13 Iranian Jews
admitted spying for Israel in the southern city of
Shiraz. Their lawyers are skeptical of the
confessions, however, and human rights groups have
denounced the closed-door proceedings. (Signed)
NEB/LB/DW/JP
06-May-2000 11:52 AM EDT (06-May-2000 1552 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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