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| Governing party 'near Turkey win' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Supporters of Turkey's governing AK Party have begun celebrating after partial results put them on the verge of a general election victory. | |
| Reports said the AKP, which is rooted in political Islam, had won almost 48% of the nationwide vote. | |
| With 80% of votes counted, the main opposition party was holding second place, with up to 20% of votes. | |
| The vote was called after disputes over a presidential candidate, and was seen as a test of Turkish secularism. | |
| 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 Read Mark's thoughts in full | This is a battle of different classes, as well as of religion and ideas BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell 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. |
| Sentiments high | Sentiments high |
| Supporters of the AKP streamed onto the streets as early results after the close of polling put the party on the brink of a comprehensive win. | |
| News channel CNN Turk projected that the AKP would win slightly less than 47% of the final vote. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Are you in Turkey? What is your reaction to the results so far? Send us your comments using the form below. | |