CAIRO â€"  After decades of authoritarian rule, Egyptians are for the first time freely choosing their first president since last year's ouster of longtime ruler and close U.S. ally Hosni Mubarak.

Voters lined up as polls opened across this nation of 82 million.

Thirteen candidates, who include Islamists, liberals and Mubarak regime figures, are contesting the election. No outright winner is expected to emerge from the two-day vote starting Wednesday. So, a runoff between the two top finishers will be held June 16-17. The winner will be announced on June 21.

The generals who have taken over from Mubarak when an uprising forced him to step down have promised to hand over power by July 1.