Some 7,200 register to run in Iran parliament vote

By Zahra Hosseinian

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Some 7,200 people have registered to run in Iran's March parliamentary elections, when reform-minded opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hope to benefit from growing disenchantment with the hardline leader.

The March 14 vote could prove a tough test for reformists seeking a political revival after they were beaten by conservatives in a 2004 parliamentary election for failing to meet their promise to create a freer country.

They also expect the conservative-controlled Guardian Council, which vets candidates for all elections, to block most of their candidates as it has done in the past.

But the conservatives are struggling to show a united front despite controlling the armed forces, judiciary, powerful watchdog bodies, parliament and presidency.

The conservatives have so far failed to propose a joint lists of candidates, and the absence of a unified voice could cost them the election, following defeats in city and local council elections last year.

Analysts say reformists stand a better chance than in previous elections because many Iranians criticize Ahmadinejad for failing to deliver on promised economic change, including sharing out Iran's oil wealth more broadly.

Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi said on Saturday that 7,200 people -- including 590 women -- had registered to run by Friday's deadline. Candidates will compete for 290 seats in parliament.

He told a news conference that over 43.2 million people were eligible to vote in Iran, where the population is over 70 million.