Icelandic comedian to become Reykjavik's mayor

Jon Gnarr, one of Iceland's top comedians, is to become Reykjavik's mayor after his new party won council elections.

The Best Party, who used Tina Turner's song "Simply The Best" for their campaign, called for clean politics, free towels in city swimming pools and a polar bear for the zoo and took 34.7 percent of Saturday's vote and six seats on the 15-seat city council.

It tied up with the Social Democrats who came in third with 19.1 percent of the vote and three councillors.

"Jon Garr will be first and foremost be a fun mayor," the 43-year-old leader of the "Best Party" said, speaking after the agreement with the Social Democrat Alliance, currently Iceland's governing party,

"The past few days have been marked by joy, fun and excitement rather than disputes," he added.

The party burst on to Reykjavik's political scene six months ago and its candidates broadcast their campaign pledges on a music video on YouTube

Among its politicians are an ex-singer with the pop band Sugarcubes, a housewife and an architect.

Mr Gnarr will assume office on June 15 for a four-year term.