Iran counts votes, conservatives tighten grip

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TEHRAN, Mar 15 (Reuters): Iran counted votes Saturday after an election set to maintain the grip of conservatives on parliament, but which looked likely to bring in more voices critical of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Many of Ahmadinejad's reformist foes, seeking political and social change and trying to capitalise on public discontent over high inflation, were blocked from standing in Friday's election.
Conservatives, committed to defending Islamic revolutionary ideals, were expected to keep the upper hand in parliament.
But their ranks include political rivals of the president, as well as committed supporters, and some analysts saw Ahmadinejad facing sharper criticism at home in the future.