Iran has shut down two publications after they posted articles critical of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.

According to official Irna news agency, "Shahrvand-e Emrouz", a weekly reformist news magazine, was shut down for violating press laws. It said the daily "Ruzgar" was temporarily closed down for publishing propaganda.

Both publications have been closed in the past.

Since 2000, Iran has closed more than 100 publications, accusing many of being "pawns of the West". The latest closures come ahead of parliamentary elections in the Islamic Republic next March.

Last week, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the vote in March posed a potential risk to the country's security and called for national unity, RFE/RL reported.