Khamenei gains ground in Iran’s parliamentary electionsMarch 4, 2012 - 18:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, appeared to gain ground in his power struggle with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as preliminary results came in from parliamentary elections, CNN reported.Candidates from Khamenei's camp look set to capture about three-quarters of the seats, Iran's state-run Press TV reported Sunday, March 4 citing provisional results. Ahmadinejad's sister Parvin lost her bid for a seat in the nation's parliamentary elections, Iranian media reported Saturday. And prominent reformist lawmakers Mostafa Kavakebian, Mohammadreza Khabbaz and Qodratollah Alikhani lost their seats, Press TV said. Vote counting in Friday's elections is complete in about 90% of constituencies, the network reported Sunday. More than 64 percent of eligible voters streamed to the polls in large numbers, and election officials praised the exercise, in which about 3,400 candidates vied for Majlis seats. It's first time Iranians are voting since allegations of rigging in the 2009 elections triggered mass street protests against President Ahmadinejad's reelection. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |