GENE RANDALL, CNN ANCHOR: There has been some very important voting overseas in Iran, in national parliamentary elections, and reformist candidates are making a strong showing. Votes are being counted by hand, and final results are not expected, by some accounts, for several weeks. But two decades of hardline dominance in Iran appears to be eroding. CNN's Christiane Amanpour is in Tehran.</s>CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One day after Iranian's cast their votes in historic parliamentary elections, early preliminary results show a majority emerging for the candidates who support reforming the Islamic republic. The rest went to candidates who's affiliations are unknown. The seats declared so far are from the outlined provinces, while results from the politically important capital Tehran and other big cities wouldn't be known for days. Authorities have decided to count the votes by hand instead of computer, further delaying the outcome. However, unofficial results from Tehran suggest reform candidates are also gaining ground, with some key hardline conservative incumbents losing their seats, including two who are vigorously opposed to Khatami's reform. Authorities say a record number of voters turned out for these parliamentary reelections, about 80 percent of the country's nearly 39 million eligible voters. The polling booths had to be kept open an extra two hours to accommodate the crowds. At stake is the future direction of Iran and whether the people's votes will move the country away from 21 years of hardline revolutionary rule toward a more open society. Reformers have promised to increase press freedom, reform the judiciary and make government and clerical officials accountable to the public. They have also called for better relations with their regional neighbors and Western countries, including the United States. Christiane Amanpour, CNN, Tehran.
With Parliamentary Elections in Iran, Two Decades of Hardline Dominance Appear to Be Eroding