The people of the Islamic Republic of Iran have been voting in parliamentary polls, widely seen as a referendum on President Mohammad Khatami's liberal reforms.

A boy casts the ballot for his father. Long queues formed outside mosques and schools where polling stations were set up, with some people waiting up to 45 minutes to vote.

State media announced that polling had been extended another two hours because so many people were still waiting to vote.

Reformers backing Mohammad Khatami were hoping for a big turnout, particularly among young people and women, to help take control of parliament from the conservatives.

A clergyman votes in the Shi'ite city of Qom, where turnout was said to be good.

Officials said about a dozen polling places had run out of ballot papers after an unexpected rush.

President Mohammad Khatami has a great deal of support from women who want to see more reforms in Iran.

There have been rallies in Tehran and elsewhere in support of the reformist president. He was elected with a landslide victory nearly three years ago and his supporters hope the election will strengthen his position in parliament.

Not everyone wants reform. At a rally in Tehran to mark the 21st anniversary of the Islamic revolution, a member of the hard-line Basiji, or volunteer militia, celebrates what he sees as the success of the revolution over the west.

But it is widely expected that reformist parties will get a big enough majority to make significant changes in Iran.