Polls closing soon despite technical difficulties

Despite technical difficulties and stoppages in several polling stations, Iraqi officials have told Middle East Eye's Suadad al-Salhy that elections will close at 6pm (3pm GMT) local time as scheduled. 

"The option to extend polling hours seems almost impossible." a senior official told MEE.

While turnout remained low in the afternoon, officials told MEE they were confident that "the participation rate will rise by the end of the day".

The senior official added that while preliminary results can in theory be announced half an hour after polls close, "in practice, this is not possible" - adding that the Iraqi government is bound to announce the results within 24 hours.

While Sunday has so far been relatively calm, the Iraqi government anticipates that tensions may rise if some factions do not accept the outcome of the election when results are announced.