Partial results Saturday from Iran's parliamentary elections show that conservative rivals of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appear on course to gain firm control of the 290-seat parliament, after winning in several constituencies across the country.

Early returns from provincial towns suggest that loyalist supporters of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei are in the lead and that the president's supporters were losing ground in the legislative body.

Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar put the turnout in the polls at 64 percent.

Iran's main opposition and reformist groups boycotted Friday's election, the first since the disputed 2009 presidential vote. All candidates were cleared by the Guardian Council, a powerful group of Islamic experts and jurists that rules on constitutional issues.

The election will have little impact on Iran's foreign or nuclear polices, but will strengthen Mr. Khamenei's position ahead of next years presidential election.

Final results are not expected until next week.

Some 3,400 candidates ran for seats in the 290-member parliament. Among the candidates was Mr. Ahmadinejad's sister, Parvin Ahmadinejad, who failed to secure a seat in their hometown, Garmsar.

Iran's Guardian Council said no outside organizations would be permitted to monitor the turnout or vote-counting process. Council spokesman Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei said Thursday the presence of international observers would be an “insult” to the Iranian people.

Partial results from Iran's parliamentary elections show loyalist supporters of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei have taken the lead.

Early returns from provincial towns Saturday show conservative rivals of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad winning seats in several constituencies across the country.

State media estimate the turnout at more than 65 percent of the country's 48 million eligible voters.

The election will have little impact on Iran's foreign or nuclear polices, but will strengthen Mr. Khamenei's position ahead of next years presidential election.

The vote is seen as a limited test of Iran's political climate as the country's main opposition and reformist groups boycotted Friday's election, the first since the disputed 2009 presidential vote. Final results are expected early next week.

Some 3,400 candidates ran for seats in the 290-member parliament. Among the candidates was Mr. Ahmadinejad's sister, Parvin Ahmadinejad, who failed to secure a seat in their hometown, Garmsar.

Voting has ended in Iran's parliamentary elections after the interior ministry kept the polling stations open for several additional hours because of the long lines of people waiting to cast their ballots.

Iranian state media claim a “massive turnout” for the Friday elections, which are likely to solidify Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's control over conservative rivals tied to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Some 3,400 candidates are vying for seats in the 290-member parliament. More than 48 million Iranians are eligible to cast ballots.

Iran's main opposition and reformists groups boycotted Friday's election, the first since the disputed 2009 presidential vote. Mostly hardliners' names appeared on the ballots. All candidates were cleared by the Guardian Council, a powerful group of Islamic experts and jurists that rules on constitutional issues.

Iran's conservative government and clerical leaders have pursued a crackdown on the reformist movement since it staged mass protests against Mr. Ahmadinejad's re-election.

Ayatollah Khamenei predicted that a big turnout would represent an act of defiance toward Iran's enemies. He was referring to Western powers leading a sanctions campaign against Iran's controversial nuclear program, and to Israel.

Western powers have tightened sanctions as a means of pressuring Iran to stop nuclear activities that could be used to produce weapons. Iran says its nuclear program has purely peaceful goals.

During Friday prayers, conservative cleric Kazem Sedighi addressed worshippers chanting anti-American slogans. Sedighi told the crowd that Friday's elections showed the world that Iran's reformist leaders do not have the support they once did.

“In this round of elections they [the West] were under the impression that they can do something because the leaders of sedition [Green Movement leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi] were absent, and they assumed these [leaders] still have supporters and because of that they can do something [sabotage the Iranian government]. However, whenever our vigilant, insightful people by the grace of God felt that the enemy was plotting, they came out and made an outstanding turnout.”

After casting his vote, Iran's former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said he wishes the election results would come strictly from the ballot boxes. Mr. Rafsanjani heads the powerful Expediency Discernment Council, which advises the country's Supreme Leader on policy and seeks to resolve deadlocks between lawmakers and the Guardian Council.

“God willing, the outcome of the elections will be what the people want, and the result will come from the votes they cast into the ballot boxes. If it will be so, God willing, we will have a good parliament, because the people really care about Islam, the Revolution and Iran. The people's choice is really important. I hope that people, with their effective participation, turn the parliament into such a place that can be effective at this critical time for our country.”

Iran's Guardian Council says no outside organizations will be permitted to monitor the turnout or vote-counting process. Council spokesman Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei said Thursday the presence of international observers would be an “insult” to the Iranian people.

Iranian state media claim a “massive turnout” for the country's parliamentary elections , which are likely to solidify Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's control over conservative rivals tied to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The semi-official Fars news agency reports that Iran's interior ministry is keeping polling stations open for two additional hours because of the long lines of people waiting to cast their ballots.

Some 3,400 candidates are vying for seats in the 290-member parliament. More than 48 million Iranians are eligible to cast ballots.

Iran's main opposition and reformists groups boycotted Friday's election, the first since the disputed 2009 presidential vote. Mostly hardliners' names appeared on the ballots. All candidates were cleared by the Guardian Council, a powerful group of Islamic experts and jurists that rules on constitutional issues.

Iran's conservative government and clerical leaders have pursued a crackdown on the reformist movement since it staged mass protests against Mr. Ahmadinejad's re-election.

Ayatollah Khamenei predicted that a big turnout would represent an act of defiance toward Iran's enemies. He was referring to Western powers leading a sanctions campaign against Iran's controversial nuclear program, and to Israel.

Western powers have tightened sanctions as a means of pressuring Iran to stop nuclear activities that could be used to produce weapons. Iran says its nuclear program has purely peaceful goals.

During Friday prayers, conservative cleric Kazem Sedighi addressed worshippers chanting anti-American slogans. Sedighi told the crowd that Friday's elections showed the world that Iran's reformist leaders do not have the support they once did.

“In this round of elections they [the West] were under the impression that they can do something because the leaders of sedition [Green Movement leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi] were absent, and they assumed these [leaders] still have supporters and because of that they can do something [sabotage the Iranian government]. However, whenever our vigilant, insightful people by the grace of God felt that the enemy was plotting, they came out and made an outstanding turnout.”

After casting his vote, Iran's former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said he wishes the election results would come strictly from the ballot boxes. Mr. Rafsanjani heads the powerful Expediency Discernment Council, which advises the country's Supreme Leader on policy and seeks to resolve deadlocks between lawmakers and the Guardian Council.

“God willing, the outcome of the elections will be what the people want, and the result will come from the votes they cast into the ballot boxes. If it will be so, God willing, we will have a good parliament, because the people really care about Islam, the Revolution and Iran. The people's choice is really important. I hope that people, with their effective participation, turn the parliament into such a place that can be effective at this critical time for our country.”

Iran's Guardian Council says no outside organizations will be permitted to monitor the turnout or vote-counting process. Council spokesman Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei said Thursday the presence of international observers would be an “insult” to the Iranian people.

Iranians across the country are choosing a new parliament, in a vote seen as a test between conservatives who support and others who oppose President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Some 3,400 candidates are vying for seats in the 290-member parliament. Friday's election, which is the first since the disputed 2009 presidential election, is being boycotted by Iran's main opposition and reformists groups. Iran's conservative government and clerical leaders have pursued a crackdown on the reformist movement since it staged mass protests against Mr. Ahmadinejad's re-election.

More than 48 million Iranians are eligible to vote in Friday's election.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appealed for a big turnout that he says would represent an act of defiance toward Iran's enemies – a reference to Western powers leading a sanctions campaign against the Iranian economy.

Western powers have been tightening sanctions to pressure Iran into stopping nuclear activities they fear are aimed at producing weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.

Iranian reformist leaders have been jailed, kept under house arrest or otherwise excluded by clerics from competing in the parliamentary vote. They have called on Iranians to boycott it.

Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said after casting his vote, that he wished the results will come strictly from the ballot boxes. Mr. Rafsanjani, who did not support Mr. Ahmadinejad in the last election, heads Iran's powerful Expediency Discernment Council which advises the country's Supreme Leader on policy and seeks to resolve deadlocks between lawmakers and Guardian Council.

“God willing, the outcome of the elections will be what the people want, and the result will come from the votes they cast into the ballot boxes. If it will be so, God willing, we will have a good parliament, because the people really care about Islam, the Revolution and Iran. The people's choice is really important. I hope that people, with their effective participation, turn the parliament into such a place that can be effective at this critical time for our country.”

Since Mr. Ahmadinejad's re-election, Iran's dominant conservative movement has largely splintered into factions that support him or reject him for presiding over a weakening economy and challenging the Supreme Leader in appointments of government officials.

The presidency in Iran is an administrative office rather than an executive role, as in many other countries. The Iranian president implements policies set by the supreme leader and laws approved by parliament, and selects Cabinet ministers, subject to parliamentary approval. The supreme leader has the final say on nominees for ministers of Defense, Foreign Affairs and Information and Culture.

Iran's Guardian Council says no outside organizations will be permitted to monitor the turnout or vote-counting process. The clerical body vets parliamentary candidates and validates poll results.

Council spokesman Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei said Thursday the presence of international observers would be an “insult” to the Iranian people, whom he said have decided their own fate since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency quoted Tehran governor Mohsen Nayebi as saying 350 foreign journalists are accredited to cover the election.

Polls have opened in Iran's parliamentary elections, in what is seen as a test between conservatives who support or oppose President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Few Iranian reformists are among the 3,400 candidates vying for seats in the 290-member parliament. Iran's conservative government and clerical leaders have pursued a crackdown on the reformist movement since it staged mass protests against Mr. Ahmadinejad's re-election in 2009.

More than 48 million Iranians are eligible to vote in Friday's election.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appealed for a big turnout that he says would represent an act of defiance toward Iran's enemies – a reference to Western powers leading a sanctions campaign against the Iranian economy.

Western powers have been tightening sanctions to pressure Iran into stopping nuclear activities they fear are aimed at producing weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.

Iranian reformist leaders have been jailed, kept under house arrest or otherwise excluded by clerics from competing in the parliamentary vote. They have called on Iranians to boycott it.

Since Mr. Ahmadinejad's re-election, Iran's dominant conservative movement has largely splintered into factions that support him or reject him for presiding over a weakening economy and challenging the Supreme Leader in appointments of government officials.

The presidency in Iran is an administrative office rather than an executive role, as in many other countries. The Iranian president implements policies set by the supreme leader and laws approved by parliament, and selects Cabinet ministers, subject to parliamentary approval. The supreme leader has the final say on nominees for ministers of Defense, Foreign Affairs and Information and Culture.

Iran's Guardian Council says no outside organizations will be permitted to monitor the turnout or vote-counting process. The clerical body vets parliamentary candidates and validates poll results.

Council spokesman Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei said Thursday the presence of international observers would be an “insult” to the Iranian people, whom he said have decided their own fate since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency quoted Tehran governor Mohsen Nayebi as saying 350 foreign journalists are accredited to cover the election.

Senegal is headed for a runoff presidential election between incumbent Abdoulaye Wade and former ally Macky Sall, after initial results of Sunday's first-round poll showed neither candidate won a majority of the votes.

Provisional results released late Wednesday showed President Wade with about 35 percent of the vote and Sall with about 26 percent. Following the announcement, an optimistic Sall rallied opposition supporters to back him in the runoff vote, tentatively scheduled for later this month.

“I invite everyone to join together for the next round of the presidential elections, probably on the 18th of March, on the 18th or 25th, to pursue a common fight against the unconstitutional candidacy (of President Wade) that is in front of us, a fight which must be won in memory of the victims (killed in protests) that we have recorded recently.”

Sall said if elected, he would revise the constitution to reduce the length of the presidential term from seven to five years. He also said he would comply with Senegal's two-term presidential limit, in a statement clearly aimed at Mr. Wade's controversial bid for a third term.

But a senior member of Senegal's ruling party warned opposition groups not to dismiss incumbent President Wade's chances for re-election. Mamadou Mountaga Gueye of the Senegalese Democratic Party told VOA that Sall, Mr. Wade's former prime minister, does not have enough experience to run the country.

“Macky Sall was a student of Abdoulaye Wade, and we don't want to give the country to a student. We have to give it to the person who has experience, who led Senegal from 2000 to the emerging country it is today.”

On Wednesday, Senegalese opposition groups held talks aimed at forming a coalition to defeat Mr. Wade. Analysts have said that such an alliance could end the 85-year-old's controversial attempt at a third term.

Several of the 14 first-round candidates have already pledged to support Sall, though it is unclear how many of their supporters will do the same. Some observers predict that many opposition leaders will be reluctant to support Sall out of fear they will not receive positions in the new government should President Wade be re-elected.

Opposition leaders have complained that President Wade's bid for a third term is unconstitutional, citing a reform he signed into law in 2001 that limits presidents to two terms. The presidentially-appointed Constitutional Court ruled last month that reform does not apply retroactively to Mr. Wade's first term.

The decision sparked riots, with protesters clashing with police. The pre-electoral violence killed at least six people, although demonstrations eased in the days leading up to the vote.

Senegal's former Prime Minister Macky Sall on Wednesday rallied the opposition to back him in a presidential run-off scheduled for March 18.

The former ally of President Abdoulaye Wade, Sall will take on the 85-year-old leader in a second round of voting after emerging as the runner-up in the first round last Sunday.

Sall vowed to revise the constitution to reduce the length of the presidential term from seven to five years, if he becomes president. He also made clear he would apply the shorter term to himself, as well as the two-term limit that is already present in the constitution.

Mr. Wade has admitted he fell short of the 50 percent of the votes needed in Sunday's poll to avoid a runoff. Provisional results show he has more than 30 percent of the vote, and Mr. Sall is trailing him by roughly seven points.

Final results are expected on Friday.

Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, one of eleven other presidential candidates, told VOA opposition leaders want to unite with civil society groups to oust Mr. Wade.

“Wednesday night, we will discuss to see if Macky Sall is ready to agree on what I call a citizen republican front, a national front, to get rid of Wade and his regime.”

Opposition leaders say President Wade's bid for a third term is unconstitutional, citing a reform he signed into law in 2001 that limits presidents to two terms. The presidentially-appointed Constitutional Court ruled last month that reform does not apply retroactively to Mr. Wade's first term.

The decision sparked riots, with protesters clashing with police. The pre-electoral violence killed at least six people, although demonstrations eased in the days leading up to the vote.

Elected in 2000 to great popular support, Mr. Wade has increasingly lost favor in the face of rising living costs, youth unemployment, and years of power cuts. Critics say the 85-year-old incumbent is too old for a third term and wants to transfer power to his unpopular son Karim.

Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade is expected to face a tough run-off vote against former prime minister Macky Sall, who is working to round up opposition support.

A group of Senegalese opposition leaders began talks Wednesday in the capital, Dakar, to discuss forming an alliance aimed at defeating the 85-year-old incumbent.

Mr. Wade has admitted he fell short of the 50 percent of the votes needed in Sunday's poll to avoid a runoff. Provisional results show he has more than 30 percent of the vote, and Mr. Sall is trailing him by roughly seven points.

Final results are expected on Friday and a run-off election is scheduled for March 18.

Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, one of eleven other presidential candidates, told VOA opposition leaders want to unite with civil society groups to oust Mr. Wade.

“Wednesday night, we will discuss to see if Macky Sall is ready to agree on what I call a citizen republican front, a national front, to get rid of Wade and his regime.”

Gadio predicted that President Wade will have a difficult time convincing opposition supporters to back his controversial bid for a third term.

Critics say President Wade's run defies a constitutional law he approved in 2001 limiting presidents two terms.

The presidentially-appointed Constitutional Court ruled last month the reform did not apply to Mr. Wade because it came into effect while he was already in office.

Mr. Wade's bid for a third term triggered weeks of demonstrations that killed at least six people.

Mr. Wade was first elected president in 2000, and re-elected in 2007.

Anti-government riots began in June, after the ruling party moved to create the post of vice president and lower the percentage of votes needed to win the presidential election.

The president's opponents said the moves were aimed at making it easier for Mr. Wade to be re-elected, and for his son, Karim Wade, to succeed him. The proposals were later dropped.