Istanbul [Turkey], May 15:Turkey appeared headed for a runoff presidential election after neither Tayyip Erdogan nor rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu cleared the threshold to win outright on Sunday, in a poll seen as a verdict on Erdogan's 20-year rule and increasingly authoritarian path.
With almost 91% of ballot boxes counted, both sides claimed to be ahead and contested the figures, warning against any premature conclusions in a deeply polarized country.
Opinion polls before the election had pointed to a very tight race but gave Kilicdaroglu, who heads a six-party alliance, a slight lead. Two polls on Friday even showed him above the 50% threshold.
The presidential vote will decide not only who leads Turkey, a NATO-member country of 85 million, but also whether it reverts to a more secular, democratic path; how it will handle its severe cost of living crisis; and manage key relations with Russia, the Middle East and the West.
According to state-owned news agency Anadolu, with almost 91% of ballot boxes counted, Erdogan led with 49.86% and Kilicdaroglu had 44.38%.
The opposition suggested results were being published in an order that artificially boosted Erdogan's tally.
A senior official from the opposition alliance said: "it seems there will be no winner in the first round. But, our data indicates Kilicdaroglu will lead."
Another senior opposition official told Reuters that Erdogan's party was raising objections against ballots, delaying full results. "So far they are doing everything in their power to delay the process," he said.
In Ankara supporters of both sides celebrated.
A crowd outside the headquarters of Erdogan's AK Party (AKP) held up posters of Erdogan as they sang songs and danced.
"I have been here since noon to celebrate our victory. This is our day," said Davut, 25, raising Erdogan's flag.
At the headquarters of Kilicdaroglu's CHP party around a thousand people had gathered, waving flags of Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and playing drums.
Source: Fijian Broadcasting Corporation