BAKU, November 6 (RIA Novosti) - Sunday's parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan began with a low turnout after only 6.62% of the electors cast their votes by 10:00 a.m. local time, a Central Electoral Commission official said.

The highest turnout of 10-11% was registered in the Nakhichevan autonomous republic, the home region of late Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev and the father of incumbent leader Ilkham Aliyev.

More than 4.6 million people were registered to vote in the elections. Voting is taking place in 125 electoral districts and 5,137 polling stations. According to the Central Electoral Commission, 1,544 candidates are running for 125 deputy seats. The ruling Yeni Azerbaijan and the opposition bloc, Azadlyg, have fielded candidates for the elections.

Under the republic's electoral code, parliamentary elections could be recognized as valid with any turnout.