Khamenei votes to open Iran's presidential poll

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gestures as he speaks to workers in Tehran in this April 26, 2006 file picture. [Photo/Agencies]

TEHRAN -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cast his vote in the country's presidential election early Friday morning and opened the poll.

In the voting ceremony, Khamenei urged the Iranians to actively take part in the election, saying "it is important that everybody participates" and their participation will "determine the fate of the country."

The enemies intended to "discourage the Iranian people" so that "they would not attend the polling stations," said the leader, emphasizing that "the Iranians disregard of the enemies' attempts follow their own expedience."

The Iranian leader dismissed what he said the US officials' recent comments on the Iranian poll and said that "it is not significant that you do not accept Iran's election."

In his earlier message, Khamenei had called on the Iranians to create a "political epic" by their "big turn-out" in the election.

According to Iran's Interior Ministry, nearly 50.5 million eligible voters can cast ballot for the candidates qualified by Iran's Guardian Council of Constitution, to choose a successor to incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The ministry also said that 60,000 polling stations have been set up for the election nationwide, Press TV reported on Friday.