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| Ruling party 'leads Turkish poll' | Ruling party 'leads Turkish poll' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Turkey's ruling AK Party holds a clear lead as general election votes are counted, early projections suggest. | Turkey's ruling AK Party holds a clear lead as general election votes are counted, early projections suggest. |
| Initial reports said the AKP, which is rooted in political Islam, would have almost 51% of the nationwide vote, with about a quarter of votes counted. | Initial reports said the AKP, which is rooted in political Islam, would have almost 51% of the nationwide vote, with about a quarter of votes counted. |
| The main opposition party is holding second place, with about 16% of votes. | The main opposition party is holding second place, with about 16% of votes. |
| The early election was called after parliament failed to choose a candidate for president, and was widely seen as a test of Turkey's secular tradition. | The early election was called after parliament failed to choose a candidate for president, and was widely seen as a test of Turkey's secular tradition. |
| Voting was compulsory and turnout was reported to be extremely high. | Voting was compulsory and turnout was reported to be extremely high. |
| Throughout the campaign the AK Party consistently denied opposition claims that Turkey's secularism was in danger. | Throughout the campaign the AK Party consistently denied opposition claims that Turkey's secularism was in danger. |
| "Our democracy will emerge from this election strengthened," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters as he cast his vote on Sunday morning. | "Our democracy will emerge from this election strengthened," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters as he cast his vote on Sunday morning. |
| This is a battle of different classes, as well as of religion and ideas BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2007/07/turkeys_political_gap.html">Read Mark's thoughts in full | |
| Some 42 million people were eligible to vote in the poll, while 14 parties are vying for seats in the 550-member parliament. | Some 42 million people were eligible to vote in the poll, while 14 parties are vying for seats in the 550-member parliament. |
| Analysts suggested the final results could change slightly after votes are counted in Turkey's major cities, where the AK Party has less support. | Analysts suggested the final results could change slightly after votes are counted in Turkey's major cities, where the AK Party has less support. |
| Sentiments high | Sentiments high |
| News channel CNN Turk projected that the AKP would win slightly less than 47% of the final vote. | |
| But that would be enough to secure the party a majority of seats in the country's 550-member parliament, the channel predicted. | |
| The BBC's Sarah Rainsford, in Ankara, the Turkish capital, says people streamed in to vote from the early morning. | The BBC's Sarah Rainsford, in Ankara, the Turkish capital, says people streamed in to vote from the early morning. |
| Turkish election primer Your questions answered Turkish voters' views | Turkish election primer Your questions answered Turkish voters' views |
| Many people broke into applause as Turkey's military Chief of Staff, General Yasar Buyukanit, arrived to cast his vote. | Many people broke into applause as Turkey's military Chief of Staff, General Yasar Buyukanit, arrived to cast his vote. |
| The early election was called after the generals warned that Turkey's strict secular system was in danger and the army was prepared to step in to defend it. | The early election was called after the generals warned that Turkey's strict secular system was in danger and the army was prepared to step in to defend it. |
| But now that ballot boxes have been opened, early results suggest many Turks do not see the AKP as a threat after all, our correspondent says. | |
| Turkey's relations with the outside world, ongoing fighting with separatist Kurds and speculation of an incursion into northern Iraq were also expected to influence the vote. | Turkey's relations with the outside world, ongoing fighting with separatist Kurds and speculation of an incursion into northern Iraq were also expected to influence the vote. |
| Record of growth | Record of growth |
| The election was called in an effort to break a stalemate over a package of constitutional reforms proposed by Mr Erdogan's current government. | The election was called in an effort to break a stalemate over a package of constitutional reforms proposed by Mr Erdogan's current government. |
| Those reforms included a proposal for the country's president to be elected directly by the people, rather than by parliament. | Those reforms included a proposal for the country's president to be elected directly by the people, rather than by parliament. |
| They were put forward by the AK Party, whose candidate for the presidency, Abdullah Gul, was repeatedly rejected by parliament. | They were put forward by the AK Party, whose candidate for the presidency, Abdullah Gul, was repeatedly rejected by parliament. |
| Turkey's current president and its secularist establishment have vowed to resist what they regard as the Islamist agenda of the AK Party. | Turkey's current president and its secularist establishment have vowed to resist what they regard as the Islamist agenda of the AK Party. |
| Mr Erdogan's government denies the claims, saying its record in office proves the contrary. | Mr Erdogan's government denies the claims, saying its record in office proves the contrary. |
| The government has overseen almost five straight years of economic growth and opened membership negotiations with the European Union. | The government has overseen almost five straight years of economic growth and opened membership negotiations with the European Union. |