Iran holds parliamentary election

Iranians vote on Friday in a parliamentary election which is expected to reinforce the power of the clerical establishment of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over hardline political rivals led by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The vote is widely viewed as a contest between his supporters and those of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The election is unlikely to have much impact on Iran's foreign policies - the country's disputed nuclear programme and international relations are already strictly controlled by Khamenei.

The vote could also allow the clergy to strengthen its hand in determining the political agenda ahead of a presidential election due in 2013.

It is the first poll since the 2009 presidential elections, which the opposition says were rigged in favour of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The opposition Green Movement is not taking part as its leaders have been under house arrest for over a year.

Early on Friday, Iranian TV broadcast images of Ayatollah Khamenei casting his vote in the capital, Tehran.

More than 48 million people are eligible to take part in the vote, which is taking place at about 47,000 polling stations.

The authorities are urging voters to come out in large numbers, with some posters in Tehran even warning that a low turnout might encourage foreign powers to launch military strikes.

However it seems that even some of Ahmadinejad's supporters are quietly calling for voters to stay away from the polls.

Ahmadinejad has fallen out with Khamenei in recent months, and some of his supporters complain that their candidates have been barred from standing.

The Guardian Council which is controlled by the Ayatollah, vets and approves parliamentary candidates.

The respective strength of the different conservative camps after this poll will define the balance of power for what may be a much more important vote - the 2013 presidential election.

In the light of the international sanctions imposed over Iran's nuclear programme, which have affected the economy and the threat of a military attack by Israel, Iranian leaders have been calling for a high turnout to bolster their legitimacy

Polling stations close at 6pm local time and official results are expected on Sunday or Monday.