(24 May 1997) English/Nat

Iranians went to the polls Friday to chose the successor to President Rafsanjani.

But critics of the elections charge that they are a sham.

APTV has talked to representatives of the National Council of Resistance based in the United States.

Even as some Iranians go to the polls to vote for a president for the first time in years, the government-in-exile insists a vast number have boycotted the polls to protest the election.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"First of all according to the reports that we have received from our resistance headquarters inside Iran the turnout of the people, the eligible voters has been very very low. It has been six point five million voters, from 39 (m) million people who are eligible to vote."
SUPER CAPTION: Sarvnas Chitsaz, National Council of Resistance in Iran

Chitsaz insists that the election results will not indicate democratic changes as long as the Ayatollah Ali Hoseini Khomeni can overrule the President's policies.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"In terms of the freedoms and liberties and economy the Iranian people are not satisfied with this regime and that is the reason they don't see any differences between these or the other mullahs."
SUPER CAPTION: Sarvnas Chitsaz, National Council of Resistance in Iran

The leading candidates --- Ali akbar nateq-Nouri and Mohammad Khatami -- are both clerics and both have served in the Rafsanjani Administration.

Nateq-Nouri is considered more conservative and backed by the present regime.

Although Khatami is relatively moderate, Chitsaz does not believe any change in policy will likely result from the elections.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Actually there are not too many differences, in reality. They are both mullahs. They have been working for this regime for the past 18 years. Of course, one of them, Nateq-Nouri is a strong one, who has the support of Khomeni, the very strong support of the Khomeni so we think he's going to be the winner. But nevertheless, whatever the outcome is, the Khomeni himself has the rule over all of these candidates. So it doesn't make any difference."
SUPER CAPTION: Sarvnas Chitsaz, National Council of Resistance in Iran

The National Council of Resistance of Iran is the political wing of the People's Mujahedin which helped overthrow the Shah of Iran in 1979.

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