Ahmadinejad and the hardcore fundamentalists in Iran

[cali]

have been dealt a setback.

<snip>

Pro-Ahmadinejad candidates failed to win control of councils
Partial results from key elections in Iran suggest a setback for conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Friday's elections were for the powerful clerical body, the Assembly of Experts, along with local government.

On a turnout of 60%, the big winners seem to be moderate conservatives, while reformists have made a comeback after three poor election showings.

Moderate former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani sealed a landslide win for a seat on the Assembly of Experts.

With most of the results for local elections announced throughout the country, the president's allies have failed to win control of any council

<snip>


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6190673.stm

[Mythsaje]

1. Iran's movement towards a more moderate approach

probably would have gone a lot more smoothly had Bush not dragged them into his fight in the first place. A LOT of the young people don't want the loonies in charge. Bush (whether deliberately or accidentally) gave a lot of support to the hardliners with his posturing. He effectively poked the moderates and especially the reformers in the eye by giving the hardliners a boost with his rhetoric.

I'm glad they've managed to reverse a little of the damage in this last election.

[applegrove]

2. I guess people don't like a leader who runs around saying crazy things

to bait the West.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Well, Iranians apparently don't. But, he and Bush are still in office.

They, as far as I know can't impeach. We can, but won't.