Reformists hopeful as Iran votes for new president

No nationwide turnout figures were available by early evening, but the interior ministry reported a "rush of voters" and said polling stations would remain open beyond the planned 1330 GMT closing time to accommodate them.

It first ordered a two-hour extension, then added another hour, with polls now set to close at 1630 GMT.

In Tehran province, the official responsible for elections said turnout there at 1400 GMT -- two and a half hours before the close of polls -- was "higher than it was four years ago".

Safar Ali Baratlou was quoted by the media as saying "it will certainly reach 70 percent".

Officials elsewhere reported turnout of at least 70 percent.

In 2009, nationwide participation reached 85 percent.

More than 50.5 million people are eligible to vote for the man -- no women were allowed to run -- to succeed Ahmadinejad, who is constitutionally barred from standing for a third term.

As they choose from among a field of six candidates for the presidency, they will also elect municipal councillors.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had called for a large turnout, voted early.

"Inshallah (God willing), the Iranian people will create a new political epic. I advise all people to vote," he said after casting his ballot.

Khamenei also attacked the United States for questioning the poll's legitimacy.

"The hell with you" who do not agree with how the election is run, Khamenei said on national television. "The Iranian people... will do what is in their interest."

His remarks were echoed by Ayatollah Ahmad Janati, head of the Guardians Council electoral watchdog, who said voters "were poking their fingers in the eye of the enemy".

Results are expected on Saturday, but if no candidate secures more than half of the votes for an outright victory, the top two will square off in a final round of voting on June 21.

With the conservative camp divided, reformists seem confident of a good showing by moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani, who has emerged as a frontrunner with a real chance of forcing a run-off, analysts say.

A pack of three heads the conservatives: former foreign minister Ali Akbar Velayati, Tehran mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and the Islamic republic's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili.

Both sides, reformist and conservative, urged a high turnout.

"It's a duty. I hope the next president can do something for us, and for the workers. I will vote for Qalibaf because he is a good mayor. I hope the promises he made will come true," said a 50-year-old woman, who declined to give her name.

Former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was disqualified from standing, urged a large turnout. Analysts say that should increase Rowhani's chances of putting up a credible showing.

Rafsanjani, who has thrown his weight behind Rowhani, said "we hope the election result will lead to national cohesion... since cohesion is a requirement for success against foreign and domestic dangers".

A major factor will be the number of abstentions, as many people were demoralised in 2009 when Ahmadinejad's re-election was widely claimed to be fraudulent.

That led to massive street demonstrations, which were crushed by the regime with deadly force, and the two reformist candidates -- Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi -- were put under house arrest.

Internet social networks blocked after they were used to rally protests against Ahmadinejad's re-election have urged abstentionists not to waste their votes this time.

The campaign has been dominated by Iran's controversial nuclear programme and an economy devastated by harsh international sanctions over that programme.

Inflation is raging at more than 30 percent, the rial has lost nearly 70 percent of its value and unemployment is rising.

The West and arch-foe Israel accuse Iran of seeking to develop atomic weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear energy programme, a charge Iran vehemently denies.

Rowhani was Iran's top nuclear negotiator under reformist ex-president Mohammad Khatami, who has also endorsed him. He has a "softly softly" approach to negotiations with world powers in the hope of reducing the impact of sanctions.

The conservative camp is split, with no single name to the fore.

Velayati says his aim is to improve Iran's relations with the outside world, including talks with world powers, but Jalili has a hardline policy that rules out concessions.