Iran elections: Ahmadinejad falling behind

Source: CCTV.com | 12-19-2006 13:48

In Iran, opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have taken an early lead in key local races, an embarrassing setback for the hard-liner president.

The partial results have been announced by Iran's Interior Ministry.

The results also suggest that Ahmadinejad's allies have largely failed to win control of key local councils that could prove a bellwether for the country. Ahmadinejad's anti-Israeli rhetoric and unyielding position on Iran's nuclear program have provoked condemnation in the West and moves toward sanctions at the U.N. Security Council.

Editor:Ji Xuewen