Turkey appears headed for a run-off presidential election as the gap between the two leading candidates – Recep Tayyip Erdogan and opposition rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu – continues to narrow as more big-city votes come in.
Both Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu have claimed to be in the lead, although they have also admitted they may not clear the 50 percent threshold to win outright.
Turkish news agencies are still reporting different numbers.
The state news agency, Anadolu, is reporting that more than 90% of votes have been counted. It has President Erdogan on 49.8% – crucially, below the 50% needed to avoid a runoff – and Kilicdaroglu on 44.4%.
The privately owned Anka agency is reporting that 94% of votes have so far been counted. It has Erdogan on 49.02% and Kilicdaroglu on 45.2%.
In either case, as things are at the moment, the presidential election is heading for a second round on May 28.
This is a developing news story. More to come.
