TEHRAN, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Iran's reformist president is urging voters to go to the polls later this week to stop conservatives from winning control of the government.
President Mohammed Khatami says Iran's interests would not be servied by conservatives gaining control, the BBC reported Monday. Many pro-reform candidates have been barred from running.
Observers say there seems to be little public interest in elections. Khatami has disappointed many reformists who hoped he would refuse to endorse Friday's poll.
The government's hardline Council of Guardians disqualified thousands of reformist candidates recently, including 80 sitting members of parliament. An additional 550 candidates withdrew Saturday in protest, even though they were qualified to stand.
Reform groups are campaigning for people to stay away from the polls. Observers expect only 30 percent of voters to come to the polls nationwide.
About 46 million Iranians are eligible to vote in the elections.
