Iranians start voting in presidential election

TEHRAN, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Iranians began voting Friday morning in a presidential election which pits incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad against three other candidates.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei casts his ballot during the Iranian presidential election in Tehran June 12, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

There are 46.2 million eligible voters for this year's presidential election. A total of 45,713 ballot boxes have been set up throughout the country.

Polling stations, which opened at 8 a.m. local time (0330 GMT), will close at 18:00 p.m. (1330 GMT) and could remain open till midnight in case of a high voter turnout.

"Hopefully, the most qualified and competent person would be elected as the head of the executive branch of the government," Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said after casting his ballot.

He also praised the "passionate and peaceful" election campaign and called on Iranians to use their right to vote as a way to fulfill "a religious and logical duty."