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Turkey referendum: Trump congratulates Erdogan | Turkey referendum: Trump congratulates Erdogan |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Donald Trump has congratulated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his victory in Sunday's referendum that gave him sweeping new powers. | Donald Trump has congratulated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his victory in Sunday's referendum that gave him sweeping new powers. |
In a phone call, the US president also thanked Mr Erdogan for supporting America's missile strike on a Syrian government airbase on 7 April. | In a phone call, the US president also thanked Mr Erdogan for supporting America's missile strike on a Syrian government airbase on 7 April. |
In the poll, 51.4% of Turkish voters backed the changes. | In the poll, 51.4% of Turkish voters backed the changes. |
Mr Erdogan rejected criticism from international monitors who said he had been favoured by an "unequal campaign". | Mr Erdogan rejected criticism from international monitors who said he had been favoured by an "unequal campaign". |
"Know your place," he told the observers. | "Know your place," he told the observers. |
The narrow victory was ruled valid by Turkey's electoral body, despite claims of irregularities by the opposition. | The narrow victory was ruled valid by Turkey's electoral body, despite claims of irregularities by the opposition. |
In a separate development, Turkey extended the state of emergency for three months. The measure, introduced after a failed coup last July, was set to expire in two days. | In a separate development, Turkey extended the state of emergency for three months. The measure, introduced after a failed coup last July, was set to expire in two days. |
Turkey divisions exacerbated | Turkey divisions exacerbated |
The referendum in numbers | The referendum in numbers |
In a statement on Monday, the White House said President Trump discussed with his Turkish counterpart America's "action in response to the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons" on 4 April. | |
It said the two leaders "agreed on the importance of holding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accountable". | It said the two leaders "agreed on the importance of holding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accountable". |
They also discussed "the counter-ISIS [Islamic State campaign]", the statement added. | They also discussed "the counter-ISIS [Islamic State campaign]", the statement added. |
Relations between Washington and Ankara have recently been strained by several key issues. | Relations between Washington and Ankara have recently been strained by several key issues. |
One of Turkey's main grievances with the US is the policy started by the Obama administration of supporting Kurdish fighters in Syria who are fighting IS forces. | One of Turkey's main grievances with the US is the policy started by the Obama administration of supporting Kurdish fighters in Syria who are fighting IS forces. |
Turkey views the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) as a terror group linked to Kurdish separatists waging an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984. | Turkey views the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) as a terror group linked to Kurdish separatists waging an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984. |
The two sides are also at loggerheads over Fethullah Gulen. Turkey accuses the Pennsylvania-based cleric of orchestrating the failed coup and wants him extradited. | |
Officially Washington insists any decision on returning him to Turkey from the US remains a judicial rather than a political one. | |
Monitors: 'Unlevel playing field' | Monitors: 'Unlevel playing field' |
Despite saying that the voting day was "well administered", the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe criticised the referendum campaign, saying: | Despite saying that the voting day was "well administered", the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe criticised the referendum campaign, saying: |
"In general, the referendum did not live up to Council of Europe standards," said Cezar Florin Preda, head of the Council of Europe delegation. | "In general, the referendum did not live up to Council of Europe standards," said Cezar Florin Preda, head of the Council of Europe delegation. |
The council is a pan-European human rights body of which Turkey is a member. | The council is a pan-European human rights body of which Turkey is a member. |
The monitors also criticised a late change by electoral officials that allowed voting papers without official stamps to be counted. They said this move "removed an important safeguard and were contested by the opposition. | The monitors also criticised a late change by electoral officials that allowed voting papers without official stamps to be counted. They said this move "removed an important safeguard and were contested by the opposition. |
But the head of Turkey's electoral body, Sadi Guven, said the unstamped ballot papers had been produced by the High Electoral Board and were valid. He said a similar procedure had been used in past elections. | But the head of Turkey's electoral body, Sadi Guven, said the unstamped ballot papers had been produced by the High Electoral Board and were valid. He said a similar procedure had been used in past elections. |
Turkey reacts: 'Politically motivated reports' | Turkey reacts: 'Politically motivated reports' |
Addressing supporters in the presidential palace in Ankara, Mr Erdogan said that Turkey did not "see, hear or acknowledge the politically motivated reports" of the monitors. | Addressing supporters in the presidential palace in Ankara, Mr Erdogan said that Turkey did not "see, hear or acknowledge the politically motivated reports" of the monitors. |
The result, he said, ended the debate on changing the constitution and creating an executive presidency, adding that the process of implementing the reforms would now begin. | The result, he said, ended the debate on changing the constitution and creating an executive presidency, adding that the process of implementing the reforms would now begin. |
He also said the country could hold a referendum on its long-stalled EU membership bid. | He also said the country could hold a referendum on its long-stalled EU membership bid. |
Additionally, Mr Erdogan said he would approve the death penalty if it was supported in a referendum or a bill was submitted to him through parliament. This would end Turkey's EU negotiations. | Additionally, Mr Erdogan said he would approve the death penalty if it was supported in a referendum or a bill was submitted to him through parliament. This would end Turkey's EU negotiations. |
The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has demanded a recount of 60% of the votes. Its deputy head said the result should be annulled altogether. | The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has demanded a recount of 60% of the votes. Its deputy head said the result should be annulled altogether. |
The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) also challenged the vote. | The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) also challenged the vote. |
Profile: Erdogan's rise to power | Profile: Erdogan's rise to power |
Turkey referendum: Key reactions | Turkey referendum: Key reactions |
The constitutional changes | The constitutional changes |