Page 9 - atoday
P. 9
WORLD NEWS 9
Tuesday 1 March 2016
Iranian hard-liners losers in parliament, clerical body
ALI AKBAR DAREINI moderate conservatives Pedestrians cross a square days after parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections in Iran. Ira-
Associated Press are expected to work to- nian voters dealt hard-liners a serious blow in elections for parliament and an influential clerical
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Irani- gether — at least on eco- body, favoring reformists and relative moderates who support last year’s nuclear deal in the coun-
an voters dealt hard-liners nomic issues. try’s first elections since the landmark agreement, results released Monday showed.
a serious blow in elections That should make the as-
for parliament and an influ- sembly less hostile to Rou- (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
ential clerical body, favor- hani, a moderate elected
ing reformists and relative in 2013 on pledges to relax ists from capturing seats in ed international sanctions Tehran on other regional is-
moderates who support restrictions on freedom of parliament,” Hosseini said. in exchange for Iran curb- sues. The strong showing by
last year’s nuclear deal in expression and improve U.S. officials had expressed ing its nuclear activities, reformists and other rela-
the country’s first elections ties with the West. hope that last year’s land- might pave the way for tive moderates makes that
since the landmark agree- “Rouhani will face a friend- mark agreement, which lift- greater cooperation with more likely.q
ment, results released Mon- ly parliament,” said Ali Reza
day showed. Khamesian, the campaign
Reformists, who favor ex- manager for top reformist
panded social freedoms vote getter Mohammad
and engagement with the Reza Aref. Khamesian said
West, won at least 85 seats, the president could count
according to final results on parliament’s support to
released by the Interior drive through economic
Ministry and broadcast on reforms and expand social
state TV. Moderate con- freedoms.
servatives — who split with “Getting parliamentary
the hard-line camp and approval to lift restrictions
support the nuclear deal on women attending male
— won 73, giving the two sports stadiums and pro-
blocs together a majority viding greater protection
over hard-liners in the 290- for women’s rights will be
seat assembly. among the measures” Rou-
The vote isn’t expected to hani can achieve, he said.
herald large-scale change At least 12 women have
in Iranian policies, but may already been elected to
make it easier for President parliament, including Fate-
Hassan Rouhani to deliver meh Hosseini, a 30-year
in areas such as promot- old business administra-
ing social freedoms and re- tion expert, and six others
forming the economy. will compete in the runoff
Hard-liners won just 68 vote. A win by three in the
seats, down from 112 in the second round would make
current parliament. Five for the biggest female par-
seats will go to religious mi- liamentary presence in
norities, and the remaining Iran’s history.
59 will be decided in a run- “As a young woman, I ran
off, likely to be held in April.
While none of the country’s to inspire women and give
three main political camps
will dominate the next them courage to fight for
parliament, reformists and
their rights. I ran to play my
role in the destiny of the
country and stop extrem-
38 dead in IS Iraq funeral blast
QASSIM ZAHRA ite militia that is part of the
SINAN SALAHEDDIN state-sanctioned Popular
Associated Press Mobilization Forces, re-
BAGHDAD (AP) — The sponsible for much of the
death toll has risen to 38 security in the area. The at-
after an IS suicide bomber tacker was wearing a sui-
struck an Iraqi funeral Mon- cide vest and entered the
day, wounding dozens funeral hall among mourn-
in a crowded reception ers lining up to pay their re-
room. A local Shiite militia spects to the militia leader,
leader is among the dead according to a local secu-
in a town north of Bagh- rity official. The Islamic State
dad that saw a wave of group bombed a cafe fre-
revenge attacks after a quented by militiamen in
similar bombing in January. Muqdadiyah in January,
Another 58 people were killing at least 32 people
wounded in the bombing and triggering a wave of
in Muqdadiyah, about 60 revenge attacks on Sunni
miles (90 kilometers) north mosques and civilians. The
of the capital, according New York-based Human
to security and hospital of- Rights Watch blamed the
ficials. The dead included a reprisal attacks on power-
local commander in Asaib ful militias within the Popu-
Ahl al-Haq, a powerful Shi- lar Mobilization Forces.q
