Iranian President Ahmadinejad's ultraconservatives have suffered a stinging defeat in the third local council election held last Friday, according to figures released by Iran's Interior Ministry.

It has been reported that the president's camp claimed under than 20 percent of the total seats, while moderate conservatives and reformists grabbed most ballots in the election.

At Tehran city council, moderate conservative Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf's camp won eight out of 15 seats, Ahmadinejad's followers two, leaving four for reformers four and one for an independent.

Similar results were seen in the final results of some other major city councils as Ahmadinejad's followers were utterly ousted from Shiraz, Bandar Abbas, Sari, Zanjan and Kerman.

In the poll of the Assembly of Experts which has the power to elect and dismiss Iran's highest authority and the supreme leader, Expediency Council Chairman and centrist Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani defeated Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, who was widely recognized as Ahmadinejad's spiritual mentor.

Since the camp controlling the Tehran city council is doomed to choose the mayor, handle municipal matters in the capital, and is seen as a stepping stone to the presidency, local media said the election results shows Ahmadinejad would face severe obstacles when vying for re-election in 2009.

The final results were above and beyond many observers' anticipations. Some analysts said the results showed the Iranian people favor moderate domestic and foreign policies instead of hardline nationalism.

"The voice of the pragmatists will be more prominent," said Baqer Moin, a London-based Iran expert and author.

According to some Iranian observers, Ahmadinejad was defeated mostly due to his maladroit domestic policy.

When elected as President, Ahmadinejad promised to let the poor share the country's oil wealth and improve their living standards. However, this pledge has come crashing to earth as prices have risen along with the unemployment rate.

Due to the negative economic situation, Iranians are pessimistic on their future lives and about their government and this was reflected in the election.

Besides, Ahmadinejad has escalated tension with the United States and its allies over several issues, including Iran's controversial nuclear program, whilst sparking repeated international outrage for his comments against Israel and for casting doubt on the Nazi Holocaust.

Though Iranian people gained national pride through the president's hardline position, looming UN sanction pressure has planted lingering seeds of doubt and people are now wanting the government to pay more attention to tackling Iran's domestic issues rather than provoking the West.

In addition, Ahmadinejad's camp split with moderates and reformers forming a coalition after being white-washed from local councils and the parliament several years ago.

The president's dealing drew sharp criticism from centrists and put offy voters, said a local analyst.

However, it seemed that the president would remain unbowed with few chances for him to change foreign policy.

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2006)