Iran extends voting hours due to massive turnout

The Iranian Interior Ministry extended voting time for two hours after reports said that a large number of people nationwide are still standing in long queues to cast their votes in the country's 9th parliamentary elections, the Fars news agency reports.

Considering the high turnout of Iranians at the polling stations and the long queues of people waiting to cast their votes, it was decided that voting time be extended for two hours to 8:00 p.m. (1630 GMT), an official Interior Ministry statement said. 

Iranians on Friday began voting in the country's ninth parliamentary elections. 

Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. (0430 GMT) Friday morning and were scheduled to close at 6:00 p.m. (1430 GMT) before the Interior Ministry statement extended the voting hours.