Diplomat rejects claims against free elections in Iran

A senior Iranian diplomat rejected certain countries\' allegations and unfounded comments against the free and fair parliamentary elections in Iran. Head of Iran\'s Interests Section in Cairo Mojtaba Amani made the remarks, adding that the turnout in the election hit 65 percent whereas the West always makes claims against what is happening in Iran. Iranian parliamentary vote was held completely free and impartial, the Iranian diplomat added. Iranians from different walks of life came to the polling stations in large numbers on Friday to determine the fate of the country\'s legislative body for the next four years. Iranians staged a high turnout in the country\'s 9th parliamentary elections in a move deemed as a straight message to the US war rhetoric. Over 48 million Iranian voters were eligible to cast their ballots, and initial estimates showed that at least 65% of them have been present at the polling stations. The American and European reporters and journalists who had come to Iran to cover the elections were astonished by the high level of public participation at the polling stations. The foreign journalists were astounded after they witnessed large crowds of people queuing at the polling stations even before voting officially started.