FROM THE BBC REPORTERS’ LOG:

(Basra) People have been literally streaming towards polling stations. I have never witnessed this huge turnout for long time.

(Fallujah) A number of polling stations have opened in the city in the north, north-east, and inside the public park. The turnout to all these stations is very low.

(Baghdad) We have seen voting here in the capital, and in the streets close to the BBC office the atmosphere was almost euphoric.

One elderly Shiite man told us his two sons had been executed under Saddam and he was voting now to make sure there was no return to the old days.

Lots of interesting stuff there.