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| Recep Tayyip Erdogan wins Turkish presidential vote | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Outgoing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won his country's first direct presidential election. | Outgoing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won his country's first direct presidential election. |
| With almost all the votes counted, Mr Erdogan had won about 52%, against 38% for his main rival Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, who has admitted defeat. | With almost all the votes counted, Mr Erdogan had won about 52%, against 38% for his main rival Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, who has admitted defeat. |
| The result avoids the need for a run-off. Mr Erdogan thanked all of his supporters in a speech in Ankara. | |
| The three-time PM has said he wants to strengthen Turkey's largely ceremonial presidency. | |
| 'Improve democracy' | |
| Mr Erdogan is revered by supporters for boosting the economy and for giving a voice to conservatives. | Mr Erdogan is revered by supporters for boosting the economy and for giving a voice to conservatives. |
| But his critics lament his authoritarian approach and Islamist leanings in a secular state, says the BBC's Mark Lowen, in the Turkish capital Ankara. | But his critics lament his authoritarian approach and Islamist leanings in a secular state, says the BBC's Mark Lowen, in the Turkish capital Ankara. |
| After the provisional results were announced Mr Ihsanoglu, joint candidate for the two main opposition parties, said: "I congratulate Mr Prime Minister and wish him success." | After the provisional results were announced Mr Ihsanoglu, joint candidate for the two main opposition parties, said: "I congratulate Mr Prime Minister and wish him success." |
| Mr Erdogan said: "The nation has shown its will at the end of the journey that we started on July 5th. | |
| "We will continue our struggle to further improve democracy and implement its standards. We will do everything to further improve the negotiation process in the country." | |
| He has been prime minister since 2003 and was barred from standing for another term. | He has been prime minister since 2003 and was barred from standing for another term. |
| He needed more than 50% of the vote for an outright victory, avoiding a second round. | He needed more than 50% of the vote for an outright victory, avoiding a second round. |
| Our correspondent says turnout appears to be much lower than expected - some voters may have been dissuaded by the summer heat and holidays. | Our correspondent says turnout appears to be much lower than expected - some voters may have been dissuaded by the summer heat and holidays. |
| Turkey - wedged between the turmoil of Iraq, Syria and Ukraine - is an important ally for the West, our correspondent adds, and whoever becomes head of state will hold a key geopolitical position. | Turkey - wedged between the turmoil of Iraq, Syria and Ukraine - is an important ally for the West, our correspondent adds, and whoever becomes head of state will hold a key geopolitical position. |
| Mr Erdogan's other rival, Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas, took about 9% of the vote. | Mr Erdogan's other rival, Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas, took about 9% of the vote. |