Teheran, Feb 20: Polling in Iran's controversial general election has been extended until 1730 GMT, amid concern about the number of voters taking part. Reformists say a conservative comeback is inevitable after some 2,500 pro-reform candidates were disqualified.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged voters to go to the polls, accusing the country's "enemies" of encouraging a boycott.

Hardliners are widely expected to retake control of parliament.


The question dominating the election is how many of Iran's 46 million eligible voters will cast their ballots. There is widespread disillusionment with the reformists over their failure to liberalise the Islamic state, he says.


But Iranian state radio said the voting extension was ordered because of a high turnout.

The Guardians Council - the conservative vetting body - deemed many candidates ineligible because of their alleged indifference to Islam and to the constitution, or accused them of questioning the supreme leader's powers.

But critics say the process has become a means by which the Council eliminates rivals.

The tens of thousands of venues for voting included mosques, desert outposts for nomads and cemeteries for those making the traditional weekly visit to graves.
The biggest of the reform parties, the Participation Front, is not contesting the poll after many of its top members were disqualified. Bureau Report