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Turkey election: Erdogan leads Ince in early results

Source: BBC News:
June 24, 2018 at 15:35
GETTY IMAGES / The president's supporters took to the streets of Istanbul to celebrate
GETTY IMAGES / The president's supporters took to the streets of Istanbul to celebrate

Turkey's long-standing leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains ahead in presidential elections with 94% of votes counted, state media report.

Mr Erdogan has 53%, while his closest rival, Muharrem Ince, is on 31%.

If Mr Erdogan is confirmed with more than 50% of the final vote, he will be declared the winner and avoid the need for a second round of voting.

Opposition parties have raised concerns about vote-rigging and electoral fraud.

As well as the presidency, voters are also choosing members of parliament. Mr Erdogan's party is ahead in that poll.

With 93% of the votes for parliament counted, the president's AK Party leads with 43% of the votes, the state news agency Anadolu reports. The main opposition CHP is on 23%.

Crucially, the pro-Kurdish HDP looks set to reach the 10% threshold and enter parliament. This may make it harder for Mr Erdogan's party and its ally the MHP to reach a majority, although currently they are on course to do so.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan votes at a polling station in Istanbul (24 June 2018)
AFP
Mr Erdogan said Turkey was going through "a democratic revolution"
 

Voter turnout is high, at almost 87%, the state broadcaster says.

Initial results were thought likely to favour the AK Party, so Mr Erdogan's lead is expected to decrease as more votes are counted.

His opponent accused the state news agency of being manipulative by releasing results from pro-Erdogan areas first.

And, as the BBC's Mark Lowen points out, the opposition is disputing the agency's reports of how many ballot boxes have been opened:

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