Gunfights marred parliamentary elections in Yemen on Sunday, wounding at least 15 people and prompting officials to close three polling stations. But the vote was extended by two hours in other areas after elections officials said turnout was strong. Some 175 international observers and thousands of Yemeni monitors oversaw the vote.

Abdu al-Janadi, head of the Supreme Commission for Elections, said the results were expected to be announced within 72 hours.

The 1,200 candidates were contesting 301 seats in Yemen's first parliamentary elections in six years. Twenty-two political parties were represented, while some candidates were running as independents. Eleven women also stood as candidates.

Saleh's ruling General People's Congress fielded the most candidates, with 297. The Islamic Reform Party and the Socialist Party - Yemen's two main opposition groups - put up 250 and 114 candidates respectively.

After pre-election clashes injured 10 people, the government enlisted 100,000 troops to maintain security Sunday and the Interior Ministry warned it would prosecute anyone found carrying a weapon in polling stations.

But gunfights broke out outside stations in several Yemeni provinces.

In Taiz province, 170 miles south of the capital, San`a, 11 people were injured in clashes outside polling stations between rival party supporters.

In Amran, 35 miles north of San`a, a soldier and a man were injured during another shootout. Two others were injured in Dhamar, some 60 miles south of the capital.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh followed through with his warnings to call off elections in any district where voting was "marred by violence" and shut down three polling stations in Taiz.

Election day violence is common in this lawless southern Arabian Peninsula where guns are plentiful.

Observers say despite strong challenges expected from the Islamic Reform Party and the Socialists, Saleh's Congress would likely dominate the race.

Critics charge the ruling party uses public funds to back its own representatives, mostly tribal leaders who enjoy wide support across the country. Saleh denies that, saying the party depends on donations from its supporters.

"We want all political powers to be represented under the parliament's dome," Saleh said after casting his vote in Yemen's capital San'a. "We want all the parties to have a chance, and we don't want a 99.9 percent majority."

Mohammed al-Hamadani said he voted for his tribal chief, although he admitted not knowing anything about the man's platform.

"I voted for him and I leave the rest up to his conscience," said al-Hamadani, from a village outside San'a.

Teacher Faiza al-Khawlani said she voted for a candidate she believes will improve conditions for women in this conservative society. She said women's rights are often violated because of the country's "customs and traditions."

The outgoing parliament had two female members.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

Yemeni men display their voter identification while waiting in line prior to voting in Yemen's parliamentary elections at a downtown-polling center, San'a, Yemen, Sunday, April 27, 2003. (AP Photo/Bryant MacDougall)