Turkey election: gap between Erdogan and opposition candidate Kilicdaroglu continues to narrow
Counting of votes in Turkey's presidential election has been underway for two hours and the first results have appeared in the Turkish media, Digi24 reports. Turkey's elections are some of the most important in recent years, as there is a significant chance that incumbent President Recep Erdogan may lose power after 20 years.
UPDATE 20:28 Although initial results show the race is getting closer, with Erdogan in the lead, opposition candidate Kilicdaroglu rejects the results from state news agency Anadolu, and Turkey's main opposition CHP says the results are "manipulated," according to CNN.
Kilicdaroglu tweeted a one-word message "We lead." The party shared a similar message on the social network.
Ankara's capital mayor, Mansur Yabas, suggested that Anadolu is "not to be trusted" and that Kilicdaroglu is currently leading. "Trust us, believe us," the official said.
UPDATE 20:22 The gap between the two candidates continues to narrow as results are recorded. After counting 51.39% of the votes, the situation is as follows: 52.11% for Erdogan and 42.02% for Kilicdaroglu.
UPDATE 20:06 The latest partial results show a further shift in favour of the opposition candidate. After counting 41.83% of the vote, Erdogan has 52.6% and Kilicdaroglu has climbed to 41.6%.
UPDATE 19:55 CHP on whose side Kilicdaroglu is running, says early count data is "positive" for its election effort. "Based on the data we have received so far, we see things very positively. When the percentage of votes counted crosses a significant threshold we will start releasing partial results," CHP spokesman Faik Oztrak said in a televised address on Sunday.
UPDATE 19:42 According to the latest Anadolu figures cited by Al Jazeera, the percentages have begun to reverse as vote counting continues - Erdogan has 53.2%, while Kilicdaroglu has climbed to 40.9%. The first partial results of the Turkish elections have appeared in the Turkish press. According to them, the turnout was a very high 87.89%. According to Anadolu, Turkey's state news agency, after counting 16.99% of the votes as of 19:00 - Erdogan has 55.98%, while Kilicdaroglu has 38.08%.
