Tehran: Iran's high legislative body, Guardian Council of Constitution, on Thursday disqualified the former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for the upcoming elections while released the names of six other candidates.

Earlier Ahmadinejad had said he would not stand, but he registered as a candidate last week. It was on the request of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that Ahmadinejad had decided not to run for elections. The qualified candidates can now start their election campaigns until May 18, Xinhua news agency reported. Iran's presidential election is slated for May 19.