Polls opened at 8 am (local time) and will close at 6 pm. A total of 167 candidates are running for 86 seats in the assembly. They are elected for eight-year terms.

The body appointed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the country's supreme leader, following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic republic, in June 1989.

Khamenei was also the first to go to the polls today at his residence in downtown Tehran. President Mohammad Khatami and his predecessor, Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, are scheduled to vote within the next hour at the residence of the late Khomeini in northern Tehran.

Over 10,000 officials mainly from the interior ministry will inspect the elections to be held today in 39,000 voting stations nationwide. There are more than 40 million eligible voters. Anyone above the ageof 15 is eligible to vote.

With the disqualification of candidates who support the moderate Khatami, observers are keenly following the turnout, which will be an important signal of what level of support the conservative opposition has among voters.

Analysts regard low turnout as a signal of support for Khatami, although turnout in most elections, save presidential elections, has generally been low.

Turnout is expected to be lower in today's vote. In 1990, slightly over 30 per cent of voters cast their ballots in the Experts Assembly polls.

Final results of the elections are expected within one week, initial results for the different provinces within the next few days.