Tehran: A former Iranian president who was blocked from a comeback bid is urging voters not to boycott Friday`s election.
Many reform-minded Iranians say they will snub the election over crackdowns by Iranian authorities and the decision to keep former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani from the ballot.
Rafsanjani`s stature rose sharply with liberals after he criticized hard-line tactics used in 2009 against protesters following the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who cannot run again this time because of term limits.
Today`s report by the pro-reform Etemad newspaper quotes Rafsanjani as saying that people "should not boycott" the vote.
Several other newspapers reported similar comments. Six candidates are on Friday`s ballot, including former nuclear negotiator Hasan Rowhani, a close ally of Rafsanjani who is backed by reformist leaders.
PTI
