Poll results show defiance of west, say Iran leaders

IRANIAN leaders yesterday said their victory in parliamentary elections showed voters’ defiance of the west after allies of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the largest share.

But a powerful bloc of Ahmadinejad’s conservative opponents made a strong showing — a split that could mean frictions between the president and former supporters disillusioned by his fiery, populist rule and handling of the economy.

Vote counting was complete everywhere in the country except for the capital, Tehran, showing conservatives who support Iran’s clerical leadership maintaining the hold they have had on parliament since 2004.