TEHRAN, March 14: Iranians voted on Friday in a parliamentary election weighted in favour of supporters of the Islamic Republic’s establishment.

Many reformist opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were barred from the race. But the new assembly might not give him an easy ride, even if conservatives dominate.

Polling stations closed at 11pm (1930 GMT), five hours later than planned, to allow more people to cast ballots.

Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi said some results would be announced on Saturday, but Tehran might take longer. He said turnout exceeded the 50 per cent of four years ago, while another official said it topped 60 per cent.

Some Ahmadinejad’s rival politicians said their informal exit polls suggested the United Front, the most pro-government group of candidates, was doing well in Tehran. Conservatives held 26 of the capital’s 30 seats in the outgoing assembly.

But even if conservative factions consolidate their grip on the 290-seat assembly, there are critics as well as supporters of Ahmadinejad in their ranks.

Some of his potential rivals in next year’s presidential election say he has fuelled inflation. Others blame his foreign policies. The Security Council this month imposed more sanctions on the Islamic Republic over its nuclear programme.

Reformists favouring more political and social freedom had hoped to capitalise on public discontent about inflation, now at 19 per cent. But the vetting process and a government crackdown on dissent muted their challenge. They may struggle to keep the 40 or so seats they had held in the previous parliament.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who usually stays above the political fray, effectively endorsed Ahmadinejad in remarks published on Thursday and relayed in mobile phone text messages as voters went to the polls.—Reuters