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Turkey PM Erdogan faces test in local election Turkey PM Erdogan faces test in local election
(about 3 hours later)
People in Turkey are voting in local elections that analysts say could determine the political future of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Counting has begun after polls closed in Turkey's municipal elections at 17:00 local time (15:00 GMT).
They are the first elections since mass protests erupted last June and a corruption scandal hit the government. Results are expected from around 21:00 in an election seen as a key test of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
They are the first elections since mass protests last June, and a subsequent government corruption scandal.
Mr Erdogan is not standing but has campaigned tirelessly in support of his Justice and Development Party (AKP).Mr Erdogan is not standing but has campaigned tirelessly in support of his Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Eight people were reported killed in two separate incidents involving supporters of rival candidates. Voting passed off peacefully in most areas but eight people were reportedly killed in two separate incidents involving supporters of rival candidates.
Feuding families were said to have clashed in the southern city of Hatay and the eastern province of Sanliurfa.Feuding families were said to have clashed in the southern city of Hatay and the eastern province of Sanliurfa.
'Ottoman slap''Ottoman slap'
In the run-up to Sunday's poll, the government blocked Twitter and YouTube, following a series of online leaks.In the run-up to Sunday's poll, the government blocked Twitter and YouTube, following a series of online leaks.
Mr Erdogan said social media was spreading misinformation.Mr Erdogan said social media was spreading misinformation.
On Saturday pro- and anti-government factions held rival demonstrations in Istanbul, which saw the Gezi Park protests of May and June last year.On Saturday pro- and anti-government factions held rival demonstrations in Istanbul, which saw the Gezi Park protests of May and June last year.
The opposition Republican People's Party is fighting there to win the mayor's office from Mr Erdogan's ally Kadir Topbas.The opposition Republican People's Party is fighting there to win the mayor's office from Mr Erdogan's ally Kadir Topbas.
The BBC's James Reynolds in Istanbul says the opposition candidate, Mustafa Sarigul, drove around the city in an open-topped bus - throwing out red T-shirts to spectators leaning from their balconies.The BBC's James Reynolds in Istanbul says the opposition candidate, Mustafa Sarigul, drove around the city in an open-topped bus - throwing out red T-shirts to spectators leaning from their balconies.
Mr Erdogan is himself a former mayor of the city and the vote has become an unofficial referendum on his administration, our correspondent says.Mr Erdogan is himself a former mayor of the city and the vote has become an unofficial referendum on his administration, our correspondent says.
The prime minister lashed out at his political opponents during a series of rallies on Saturday. The race is also thought to be close in the capital Ankara.
The loss of either city would be a major embarrassment for the prime minister, who lashed out at his political opponents during a series of rallies on Saturday.
"They are all traitors," he told the crowd in Istanbul."They are all traitors," he told the crowd in Istanbul.
"Go to the ballot box tomorrow and teach all of them a lesson. Let's give them an Ottoman slap.""Go to the ballot box tomorrow and teach all of them a lesson. Let's give them an Ottoman slap."
Mr Erdogan was forced to cancel a number of rallies on Friday on doctors' orders to rest his voice.Mr Erdogan was forced to cancel a number of rallies on Friday on doctors' orders to rest his voice.
'Foreign plot''Foreign plot'
The prime minister has purged hundreds of people from the judiciary and police since several of his allies were arrested over a corruption scandal in December.The prime minister has purged hundreds of people from the judiciary and police since several of his allies were arrested over a corruption scandal in December.
He has accused the judiciary of being behind a series of wiretaps and social media leaks allegedly exposing major corruption, and blamed the probe on a "foreign plot".He has accused the judiciary of being behind a series of wiretaps and social media leaks allegedly exposing major corruption, and blamed the probe on a "foreign plot".
The scandal has pitted the prime minister against a former ally, US-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen, who has many supporters in the police and judiciary.The scandal has pitted the prime minister against a former ally, US-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen, who has many supporters in the police and judiciary.
Mr Erdogan and his Islamic-leaning AK Party have been in power for over a decade. Mr Erdogan's Islamic-leaning AK Party swept to power in 2002 on a platform of eradicating the corruption that blights Turkish life.
This time it hopes to equal or better its 2009 vote of 38.8%.
Sunday's local assembly and mayoral elections are being seen as a key test ahead of presidential elections in August and parliamentary elections next year.Sunday's local assembly and mayoral elections are being seen as a key test ahead of presidential elections in August and parliamentary elections next year.
The government faced major street protests last year sparked by plans to raze Istanbul's Gezi Park and redevelop it. The police crackdown galvanised anti-government demonstrators in several cities.The government faced major street protests last year sparked by plans to raze Istanbul's Gezi Park and redevelop it. The police crackdown galvanised anti-government demonstrators in several cities.
The anger which led to the unrest flared up again earlier this month, with the news of the death of a 15-year-old boy who had been in a coma since last June after being injured during a protest.The anger which led to the unrest flared up again earlier this month, with the news of the death of a 15-year-old boy who had been in a coma since last June after being injured during a protest.