Rowhani Leads in Iran's Incomplete Vote Count

Iranian presidential candidate Hasan Rowhani, a former Iran's top nuclear negotiator, 

casts his ballot during presidential elections at a polling station in downtown Tehran, 

Iran, June 14, 2013.

Incomplete results from Iran's presidential election have moderate candidate Hassan Rowhani with a sizeable lead among six candidates. He has the support of reformists in Iran.

Rowhani has just over 50 percent of the 12 million votes counted by Saturday morning. Tehran Mayor Bagher Qalibaf, in second place, trailed far behind with 15 percent of the votes.

It is not clear when the final results will be announced. About 50 million Iranians were eligible to vote Friday, and Iranian media have reported turnout estimates of between 75 and 80 percent.

To win, a candidate must get more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff election next Friday.

Iranians voted to choose a successor to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is constitutionally barred from a third consecutive term.

Analysts say the high interest in the carefully orchestrated campaign may be due to the candidacy of moderate cleric Rowhani.

Officials extended voting by several hours Friday to accommodate what they described as a large turnout in the country's presidential election.

Most of the candidates are considered hardliners who are loyal to the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The election winner will be faced with an economy struggling with high unemployment and inflation, crippled by international sanctions imposed over Iran's disputed nuclear program.

While some candidates favor improved ties with the international community, major policy decisions rest with the supreme leader.