PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL<br/> <br />Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei votes in an election widely expected to underscore a deepening power struggle between the hardline religious and political.<br/> <br />The parliamentary election is expected to reinforce the power of Khamenei's clerical establishment over that of his political rivals led by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.<br/> <br />Observers say the President and his allies are trying to undermine the clergy's central role.<br/> <br />The two fell out after the disputed 2009 election that sparked a firestorm of protests.<br/> <br />This poll is a straight showdown between the two sides.<br/> <br />Pro-reform parties are staying out of it.<br/> <br />They say the election isn't properly free or fair.<br/> <br />The outcome of the polls won't have much effect on Iran's disputed nuclear programme, or international relations.<br/> <br />They're already controlled by Khamenei.<br/> <br />But what happens now could have an impact on next year's presidential polls<br/> <br />Ahmadinejad can't stand again but may have hoped for the election of a protege.<br/> <br />That would need a revival of his flagging political fortunes which have been battered by his handling of the economy.<br/> <br />With Iran's increasing international isolation, western sanctions and threat of attack from Israel all sides want a big turnout in these polls to bolster their legitimacy.<br/> <br />Paul Chapman, Reuters
