The region's Independent High Electoral Commission said it had "decided to suspend temporarily preparations for the elections set for November 1 because of the current situation".

Iraqi government forces announced Wednesday they had retaken from Kurdish fighters almost all the areas disputed between Baghdad and the autonomous Kurdistan region in response to a September independence vote.

The commission said it was down to the regional parliament to set a new date for elections.

It said it had not received any nominations for the presidential poll by the deadline.

Mohammad Tawfiq Rahim, a prominent rival of regional president Massud Barzani, was the only candidate registered to run, but the commission ruled he had missed the deadline.

Longtime regional leader Barzani, the driving force behind the September 25 independence vote that sparked the crisis with Baghdad, has repeatedly said he will not stand for another term.