Cries for Freedom Amid Violence As Iranians Vote for President

A stream of Iranians, many chorusing a demand for greater freedom, voted yesterday in a presidential election marred by violence and dismissed by the US as unfair.

In Tehran, election officials reported a solid turnout for a contest between seven candidates in which the number of voters has been defined by religious rulers as paramount. Carrying their dark red iden tity booklets, voters endured searing temperatures to queue at polling centres.

Voters at a mosque in the affluent Elahieh district in north Tehran said greater liberalisation and social freedoms were the priority. Others said the election represented Iran's last chance for change under the Islamic system.

"Iran is not at all democratic enough. I would like to see freedom of expression, but that right has to be struggled for," said Negar, 19, a fishery engineering student who voted for the leading reformist candidate, Mostafa Moin.

Inspectors from the interior ministry and the guardian council, a powerful unelected body which vetted candidates for their adherence to Iran's theocratic system, monitored possible abuses. There have been allegations of violent attacks and dirty tricks. Polls were due to close at 7pm although preparations were being made to extend the hours to boost turnout.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has called for a high turnout to demonstrate the country's democratic credentials in the face of US and European pressure over its nuclear programme and human rights record.

The campaign frontrunner has been the pragmatic former president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a pillar of the establishment who claims he can heal the division between reformists and religious hardliners while re-establishing ties with America.

But opinion polls, often an unreliable indicator in Iran, have suggested Mr Rafsanjani is unlikely to win the absolute majority needed to win outright. That would result in an unprecedented second round, probably between Mr Rafsanjani and either Mr Moin or Muhammad Baqer Qalibaf, a hardline former police chief and revolutionary guard air force commander, who has styled himself as a moderniser. Analysts have described the contest as Iran's closest since the Islamic revolution 26 years ago.

The election has been criticised by Human Rights Watch and George Bush because of the barring of reform-minded candidates. Mr Moin has complained of violent assaults on his supporters by vigilantes.

However, even in traditionally religious south Tehran, some voices can be asking for greater freedoms in society.

In working class Javadieh, Roghayeh Mohammedieh, 21, a housewife wearing a black chador, said she had voted for Mr Rafsanjani to get restrictions eased. "I am impressed that he considers women to be more precious," she said. "I would like to see things more free."