UN questions Iranian elections

There are "serious concerns" about how the Iranian government vetted the candidates for recent parliamentary elections, a UN rights official said. Supporters of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei gained the upper hand in March 4 parliamentary elections, the first election since the divisive 2009 presidential contest. Khamenei had said Iran would be governed better by a parliamentary system. Ahmed Shaheed, the UN special envoy for human rights in Iran, told members of the UN Human Rights Council he had concerns about elections. Shaheed said turnout was reported at around 64 percent for the elections. International monitors weren't invited to observe the polls, though he said an estimated 850,000 observers did monitor the polls inside the country. "However, serious concerns remain about the vetting of the candidates for this election," he said. At least 28 sitting members were barred from competing and other candidates were given two days notice of their eligibility to take part in the election. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won a second term in office in a 2009 election that was largely considered fraudulent. Shaheen said he wasn't allowed in the country despite repeated requests to the government.