IRAN: SURVEY GIVES THUMBS-DOWN TO PRESIDENT

Tehran, 16 August (AKI) - Less than one quarter of Iranians surveyed in an opinion poll for the pro-reformist Aftab News website said hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his government have performed strongly during his first year in office. Just 24.9 percent said Ahmadinejad had done a "very good job," while 46.5 percent rated the president's performance so far as "extremely negative."

A total 13 percent of those polled said Ahmadinejad's record has been "negative," and 9.4 percent said they saw "no difference" between his presidency and that of his predecessor, the reformist Mohammad Khatami.