Hard-liners close papers before vote

TEHRAN, Iran - Hard-liners appear almost certain to retake control of Iran's legislature in parliamentary elections today after hundreds of reformist candidates were disqualified. In the latest sign of the conservatives' boldness, they padlocked shut the capital's last major pro-reform newspapers.

The silencing of the two dailies - Yas-e-nou and Sharq - on Thursday was part of relentless pressure on media critical of the Islamic establishment. But it carried an added blow just before the elections, which most reformists plan to boycott.

Judiciary agents also searched and closed an election monitoring office of the main reformist party, the Islamic Participation Front, said a member of the group, speaking on condition of anonymity. The group's headquarters continued to operate.

The ruling theocrats have barred more than 2,400 candidates who sought greater political and social openness - effectively sending the 290-seat Parliament back under the wing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the powerful clergy he commands.

All the parliament seats are up for election, but the only real drama is how many people will vote.

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