Iran demonstrates that democracy has nothing to do with liberty and is certainly not synonymous to freedom. It is immaterial which candidate appointed by Guardians Council the people will choose
Ahmadinejad is barred from standing for a third consecutive term under the constitution.
An election cycle after the disputed re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spurred the Green liberation Movement, Iranians today voted for a new president.
Men and women in separate queues were lining up at polling stations.
More than 50.5 million people are eligible to vote for the man — no women candidates were approved — to succeed Ahmadinejad. Iran supreme rulers, the Guardian Council approved six candidates.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has called for a large turnout but not publicly stated his preference for any single candidate.
"Inshallah (God willing), the Iranian people will create a new political epic. I advise all people to vote," said the Iranian leader after casting his ballot.
He attacked US criticism of the credibility of the presidential poll.
"To hell with you... who do not agree with the way the election is being run, Khamenei said on national television. "The Iranian people... will do what is in their interest." Ayatollah Ahmad Janati, head of the hardline Guardians Council electoral watchdog, said voters "were poking their fingers in the eye of the enemy."
If no candidate secures more than half of the votes to win outright today, a second round will be held a week later.
The first results are expected on Saturday. Source