The winner of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/istanbul-awaits-election-verdict-on-erdogan-and-turkish-democracy-229788"> Istanbul's mayoral election re-run</a>, Ekrem Imamoglu, said Sunday that the victory marked a "new beginning" for Turkey and offered to work closely with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"It was not a single group or party, but the whole of Istanbul and Turkey that won this election," Imamoglu said in his victory speech.&nbsp;

With almost 99 percent of votes counted, he had 54 percent of the vote against the ruling AKP party's Binali Yildirim on 45.1 per cent.&nbsp;

His lead of more than 775,000 votes marked a huge increase on his victory in March, when he won by just 13,000.&nbsp;

That win was annulled by election authorities after Erdogan's AKP party claimed there was corruption in the counting.&nbsp;

"Mr President, I am ready to work in harmony with you. I convey from here my request to meet with you in the shortest time possible," Imamoglu said.

"I will work diligently without discriminating against anyone," he added, before concluding with his campaign slogan: "Everything will be fine."

The winner of Istanbul's mayoral election re-run, Ekrem Imamoglu, said Sunday that the victory marked a "new beginning" for Turkey and offered to work closely with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The winner of Istanbul's mayoral election re-run, Ekrem Imamoglu, said Sunday that the victory marked a "new beginning" for Turkey and offered to work closely with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "It was not a single group or party, but the whole of Istanbul and Turkey that won this election," Imamoglu said in his victory speech. With almost 99 percent of votes counted, he had 54 percent of the vote against the ruling AKP party's Binali Yildirim on 45.1 per cent. His lead of more than 775,000 votes marked a huge increase on his victory in March, when he won by just 13,000. That win was annulled by election authorities after Erdogan's AKP party claimed there was corruption in the counting. "Mr President, I am ready to work in harmony with you. I convey from here my request to meet with you in the shortest time possible," Imamoglu said. "I will work diligently without discriminating against anyone," he added, before concluding with his campaign slogan: "Everything will be fine."

Istanbul mayor says win marks 'new beginning' for Turkey

Polls closed in Sunday's replay of the mayoral election in Istanbul, with voters anxiously awaiting a verdict seen as crucial to the future of Turkish democracy and its long-ruling president, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkeys-erdogan-to-push-for-trial-of-egyptian-government-over-morsis-death-228805">Recep Tayyip Erdogan</a>.&nbsp;

Ekrem Imamoglu was a little-known district mayor who caused a huge upset when he narrowly beat the candidate of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-says-endorses-un-report-on-khashoggi-murder-228798">Erdogan</a>'s ruling party in March.&nbsp;

Election authorities annulled that result after Erdogan claimed irregularities in the counting -- but that has only galvanised Imamoglu who vowed "a battle for democracy" to take back the city of 15 million.

Critics say Erdogan simply refused to give up control of Istanbul, Turkey's economic powerhouse and a crucial source of patronage for Islamic conservatives since he won the mayorship himself a quarter-century ago.

But being stripped of the victory has turned Imamoglu, of the secular Republican People's Party, into a household name.

"Today our people will make the best decision... for the sake of our democracy, for Istanbul and also for the legitimacy of all future elections," he said after voting.

His upbeat message under the slogan "Everything will be fine" is in contrast to the usual aggressive name-calling of Turkish politics.

The message had struck a chord among voters.&nbsp;

"I'm nervous but I'm sure of the result," said one 26-year-old supporter on Sunday. "The interest in the first election was far less. Now things are different and I believe Ekrem Imamoglu will win by a big margin."

But Imamoglu faces the juggernaut of the AKP, which has ruled Turkey since 2002 and remains the most popular political force nationwide thanks to years of dramatic growth and support for previously-excluded religious conservatives.&nbsp;

The AKP's candidate is Binali Yildirim, a mild-mannered Erdogan loyalist who oversaw several huge transport projects and served as prime minister.

He struck a conciliatory tone on Sunday, saying: "If we have wronged, knowingly or unknowingly, one of our fellow Istanbulites or our challengers, if we have done something unjust, I ask for your forgiveness," he said.

Results of the vote are expected Sunday evening.&nbsp;

- 'Lose-lose situation' -

Analysts say that the re-run is a lose-lose proposition for Erdogan: a second defeat would undermine his image of invincibility and embolden rivals within his party, while a victory would forever be seen by the opposition as stolen.

It comes as an economic slump and rising prices have dented his reputation for economic stewardship, with the AKP also losing the capital Ankara in March.&nbsp;

For many conservatives, Erdogan remains a hero who brought prosperity and has fiercely defended the country's interests.

Most accept the line that the re-run was necessary.

"If there's something like stolen votes, I think it's better to re-do the election in the name of democracy," said 45-year-old Huseyin as he queued to cast his ballot.

Erdogan maintained his allegations of irregularities as he voted on Sunday, saying the last election "should not have happened like that".&nbsp;

But the controversy over the re-run may explain his relative silence, with no repeat of the tireless rallying for the March polls, which included 102 appearances in just 50 days.

Erdogan has downplayed the importance of the re-run, saying last week that the choice of mayor was "only a change in the shop window" since the AKP controls almost two-thirds of the city's districts.

Fearing fraud, the opposition has mobilised an army of lawyers from across Turkey to monitor Sunday's election, with the Istanbul Bar Association unfurling a huge banner at their headquarters that reads: "Stand guard for democracy".&nbsp;

"I have always a doubt in the corner of my mind that they would not replay this election for nothing. Anything is possible from the other side," said an Imamoglu supporter.

- The Kurdish factor -

The AKP has gone to great lengths to rally conservative voters who abstained in March.&nbsp;

It has also tried to win over Kurds, who number in the millions in Istanbul and have been angered by the crackdown on Kurdish activists in recent years.&nbsp;

Yildirim travelled to one of the main Kurdish cities of Diyarbakir this month and uttered the word "Kurdistan" -- a taboo in Turkey.

There have even been signs of dialogue with the jailed leader of the Kurdish insurgency, Abdullah Ocalan, who this week called on the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party to remain neutral in the election, though it has continued to back Imamoglu.

Polls closed in Sunday's replay of the mayoral election in Istanbul, with voters anxiously awaiting a verdict seen as crucial to the future of Turkish democracy and its long-ruling president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Polls closed in Sunday's replay of the mayoral election in Istanbul, with voters anxiously awaiting a verdict seen as crucial to the future of Turkish democracy and its long-ruling president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ekrem Imamoglu was a little-known district mayor who caused a huge upset when he narrowly beat the candidate of Erdogan's ruling party in March. Election authorities annulled that result after Erdogan claimed irregularities in the counting -- but that has only galvanised Imamoglu who vowed "a battle for democracy" to take back the city of 15 million. Critics say Erdogan simply refused to give up control of Istanbul, Turkey's economic powerhouse and a crucial source of patronage for Islamic conservatives since he won the mayorship himself a quarter-century ago. But being stripped of the victory has turned Imamoglu, of the secular Republican People's Party, into a household name. "Today our people will make the best decision... for the sake of our democracy, for Istanbul and also for the legitimacy of all future elections," he said after voting. His upbeat message under the slogan "Everything will be fine" is in contrast to the usual aggressive name-calling of Turkish politics. The message had struck a chord among voters. "I'm nervous but I'm sure of the result," said one 26-year-old supporter on Sunday. "The interest in the first election was far less. Now things are different and I believe Ekrem Imamoglu will win by a big margin." But Imamoglu faces the juggernaut of the AKP, which has ruled Turkey since 2002 and remains the most popular political force nationwide thanks to years of dramatic growth and support for previously-excluded religious conservatives. The AKP's candidate is Binali Yildirim, a mild-mannered Erdogan loyalist who oversaw several huge transport projects and served as prime minister. He struck a conciliatory tone on Sunday, saying: "If we have wronged, knowingly or unknowingly, one of our fellow Istanbulites or our challengers, if we have done something unjust, I ask for your forgiveness," he said. Results of the vote are expected Sunday evening. - 'Lose-lose situation' - Analysts say that the re-run is a lose-lose proposition for Erdogan: a second defeat would undermine his image of invincibility and embolden rivals within his party, while a victory would forever be seen by the opposition as stolen. It comes as an economic slump and rising prices have dented his reputation for economic stewardship, with the AKP also losing the capital Ankara in March. For many conservatives, Erdogan remains a hero who brought prosperity and has fiercely defended the country's interests. Most accept the line that the re-run was necessary. "If there's something like stolen votes, I think it's better to re-do the election in the name of democracy," said 45-year-old Huseyin as he queued to cast his ballot. Erdogan maintained his allegations of irregularities as he voted on Sunday, saying the last election "should not have happened like that". But the controversy over the re-run may explain his relative silence, with no repeat of the tireless rallying for the March polls, which included 102 appearances in just 50 days. Erdogan has downplayed the importance of the re-run, saying last week that the choice of mayor was "only a change in the shop window" since the AKP controls almost two-thirds of the city's districts. Fearing fraud, the opposition has mobilised an army of lawyers from across Turkey to monitor Sunday's election, with the Istanbul Bar Association unfurling a huge banner at their headquarters that reads: "Stand guard for democracy". "I have always a doubt in the corner of my mind that they would not replay this election for nothing. Anything is possible from the other side," said an Imamoglu supporter. - The Kurdish factor - The AKP has gone to great lengths to rally conservative voters who abstained in March. It has also tried to win over Kurds, who number in the millions in Istanbul and have been angered by the crackdown on Kurdish activists in recent years. Yildirim travelled to one of the main Kurdish cities of Diyarbakir this month and uttered the word "Kurdistan" -- a taboo in Turkey. There have even been signs of dialogue with the jailed leader of the Kurdish insurgency, Abdullah Ocalan, who this week called on the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party to remain neutral in the election, though it has continued to back Imamoglu.

Istanbul awaits election verdict on Erdogan and Turkish democracy

Turkey`s main opposition party said on Wednesday it had formally requested the annulment of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/erdogan-opens-turkeys-largest-mosque-215827">President Tayyip Erdogan`s</a> mandate because the same flaws his AK Party alleged in the city`s March 31 mayoral vote occurred in last year`s national elections.

The Republican People`s Party (CHP) also said votes for Istanbul officials and councils, submitted in the same envelopes as the mayoral election, should be cancelled if the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-election-body-orders-istanbul-vote-re-run-after-erdogans-akp-defeat-216530">mayoral vote is re-run</a>. The AK Party (AKP) won a majority in the councils.

After weeks of appeals by the AKP and their nationalist MHP allies, Turkey`s High Election Board (YSK) ruled on Monday for a re-run of the Istanbul mayoral election, which was dramatically won by the CHP`s Ekrem Imamoglu with a razor-thin majority.

It was the first time in 25 years that the AKP or its Islamist predecessors had failed to win control of Istanbul, Turkey`s largest city with a budget of close to $4 billion. Erdogan launched his own political career as Istanbul mayor.

In its ruling, which also annulled Imamoglu`s mandate, the YSK cited irregularities in the appointment of polling station officials. Erdogan`s party said the fact that individuals who were not public servants had been appointed to the polling stations amounted to organised crime.

However, the YSK left results for district administrators, municipal councils and local officials unchanged, a decision which the CHP said was nonsense because all four votes were cast in the same envelopes and counted by the same polling officials.

"If you`re revoking Ekrem Imamoglu`s mandate ... then you must also annul President Erdogan`s mandate because the same laws, same regulations, same applications, same polling stations and conditions were present in both elections," CHP Deputy Chairman Muharrem Erkek told reporters.

"Why are you not cancelling the results that came out of the same envelopes?" he said.

A video posted on the AKP`s Twitter account said the YSK had not ruled that all the elections must be re-run in Istanbul because the number of "suspicious" votes it had identified would not affect the outcome of the district council polls.

In his first comments after the YSK`s decision, Erdogan said on Tuesday that the elections had been marred by "organised irregularity".

The United States, which has had tetchy relations with Erdogan, issued a statement on the re-run, saying that "we, like other friends of Turkey, take note of this extraordinary decision".

"Turkey has a long, proud democratic tradition. We urge Turkish authorities to carry out this election in keeping with its laws, and in a manner that is consistent with its OSCE commitments, its status as a NATO ally, and its aspirations for membership in the European Union," the statement from State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.&nbsp;

DEMOCRACY UNDER THREAT?

Asked about the ruling, Imamoglu said democracy was the victim.

"The municipal council, crystal clear. The local officials, great. The district administrators, also okay. But the mayoral, there is an issue there," he told

Turkey`s Fox TV late on Tuesday. "When Ekrem Imamoglu wins as mayor, you complain of irregularities. How can this be in line with anyone`s morals?" 
Imamoglu is portraying the election re-run as a battle for democracy in Turkey, maintaining since Monday`s ruling the upbeat and defiant tone of his original election campaign.

In a video interview with online newspaper T24 broadcast on Wednesday, Imamoglu said he did not expect the election board to accept the CHP`s request.

Responding to his appeal for support in a fiery speech after the announcement, around a million people including several prominent artists have used the hashtag #HerSeyCokGuzelOlacak (Everything Will be Alright) to show their solidarity.&nbsp;

The Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB), representing Turkey`s top lawyers, has said the YSK`s ruling had no legal basis and demanded that it publish a detailed justification.

The YSK has yet to set out its reasoning, which it is legally obliged to do. It was also not immediately clear when it would rule on the CHP`s appeal.&nbsp;

CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu on Tuesday accused the YSK of betraying voters` trust, saying the seven members who voted in favour of the re-run were "gang members" who bowed to the wishes of the AKP.

State-owned Anadolu news agency quoted the YSK on Wednesday as condemning Kilicdaroglu`s comments, saying he should not be allowed to insult members of the judiciary.

Challenges to the election results have unnerved financial markets and put pressure on the already ailing lira, which tumbled to its weakest level since October after the YSK scrapped the vote.&nbsp;

The lira stood at 6.1830 against the dollar at 1451 GMT on Wednesday, as investors questioned Turkey`s commitment to both the rule of law and economic reforms during a recession.

"The elections will be repeated in Istanbul, but they will be felt across the whole country," the TBB said in its statement.

Turkey`s main opposition party said on Wednesday it had formally requested the annulment of President Tayyip Erdogan`s mandate because the same flaws his AK Party alleged in the city`s March 31 mayoral vote occurred in last year`s national elections.

Turkey`s main opposition party said on Wednesday it had formally requested the annulment of President Tayyip Erdogan`s mandate because the same flaws his AK Party alleged in the city`s March 31 mayoral vote occurred in last year`s national elections. The Republican People`s Party (CHP) also said votes for Istanbul officials and councils, submitted in the same envelopes as the mayoral election, should be cancelled if the mayoral vote is re-run. The AK Party (AKP) won a majority in the councils. After weeks of appeals by the AKP and their nationalist MHP allies, Turkey`s High Election Board (YSK) ruled on Monday for a re-run of the Istanbul mayoral election, which was dramatically won by the CHP`s Ekrem Imamoglu with a razor-thin majority. It was the first time in 25 years that the AKP or its Islamist predecessors had failed to win control of Istanbul, Turkey`s largest city with a budget of close to $4 billion. Erdogan launched his own political career as Istanbul mayor. In its ruling, which also annulled Imamoglu`s mandate, the YSK cited irregularities in the appointment of polling station officials. Erdogan`s party said the fact that individuals who were not public servants had been appointed to the polling stations amounted to organised crime. However, the YSK left results for district administrators, municipal councils and local officials unchanged, a decision which the CHP said was nonsense because all four votes were cast in the same envelopes and counted by the same polling officials. "If you`re revoking Ekrem Imamoglu`s mandate ... then you must also annul President Erdogan`s mandate because the same laws, same regulations, same applications, same polling stations and conditions were present in both elections," CHP Deputy Chairman Muharrem Erkek told reporters. "Why are you not cancelling the results that came out of the same envelopes?" he said. A video posted on the AKP`s Twitter account said the YSK had not ruled that all the elections must be re-run in Istanbul because the number of "suspicious" votes it had identified would not affect the outcome of the district council polls. In his first comments after the YSK`s decision, Erdogan said on Tuesday that the elections had been marred by "organised irregularity". The United States, which has had tetchy relations with Erdogan, issued a statement on the re-run, saying that "we, like other friends of Turkey, take note of this extraordinary decision". "Turkey has a long, proud democratic tradition. We urge Turkish authorities to carry out this election in keeping with its laws, and in a manner that is consistent with its OSCE commitments, its status as a NATO ally, and its aspirations for membership in the European Union," the statement from State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. DEMOCRACY UNDER THREAT? Asked about the ruling, Imamoglu said democracy was the victim. "The municipal council, crystal clear. The local officials, great. The district administrators, also okay. But the mayoral, there is an issue there," he told Turkey`s Fox TV late on Tuesday. "When Ekrem Imamoglu wins as mayor, you complain of irregularities. How can this be in line with anyone`s morals?" Imamoglu is portraying the election re-run as a battle for democracy in Turkey, maintaining since Monday`s ruling the upbeat and defiant tone of his original election campaign. In a video interview with online newspaper T24 broadcast on Wednesday, Imamoglu said he did not expect the election board to accept the CHP`s request. Responding to his appeal for support in a fiery speech after the announcement, around a million people including several prominent artists have used the hashtag #HerSeyCokGuzelOlacak (Everything Will be Alright) to show their solidarity. The Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB), representing Turkey`s top lawyers, has said the YSK`s ruling had no legal basis and demanded that it publish a detailed justification. The YSK has yet to set out its reasoning, which it is legally obliged to do. It was also not immediately clear when it would rule on the CHP`s appeal. CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu on Tuesday accused the YSK of betraying voters` trust, saying the seven members who voted in favour of the re-run were "gang members" who bowed to the wishes of the AKP. State-owned Anadolu news agency quoted the YSK on Wednesday as condemning Kilicdaroglu`s comments, saying he should not be allowed to insult members of the judiciary. Challenges to the election results have unnerved financial markets and put pressure on the already ailing lira, which tumbled to its weakest level since October after the YSK scrapped the vote. The lira stood at 6.1830 against the dollar at 1451 GMT on Wednesday, as investors questioned Turkey`s commitment to both the rule of law and economic reforms during a recession. "The elections will be repeated in Istanbul, but they will be felt across the whole country," the TBB said in its statement.

Turkish opposition: Erdogan's mandate must also be revoked if Istanbul poll annulled

Turkey's electoral body has been condemned for ordering Istanbul's local elections to be re-held after an opposition victory in March. Watch full video to know more.

Turkey election re-run angers opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurated Turkey’s largest mosque on Friday. Watch full video to know more.

Erdogan opens Turkey's largest Mosque

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/president-tayyip-erdogan-inaugrates-turkeys-largest-mosque-condemns-deadly-attacks-215844&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjUsKbK_oHiAhUv7HMBHQEtDlgQFjAEegQIEBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1CiKMofDRvmIkfj0Zx4-5k">Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan</a> signalled on Saturday he favours a re-run of a mayoral election in Istanbul which resulted in a victory for the candidate of the main opposition Republican People`s Party (CHP).

Erdogan's ruling AK Party, which also lost control of the capital Ankara in the March 31 mayoral elections, has already filed an appeal to Turkey`s High Election Board to annul the election in Istanbul due to what it says were irregularities and hold a fresh poll.

"There is a controversy here, it`s clear. There is an irregularity here, that`s clear too. Let`s go to the people and see what they say and whatever the outcome, we will accept it," Erdogan told Turkish businesspeople in Istanbul.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan signalled on Saturday he favours a re-run of a mayoral election in Istanbul which resulted in a victory for the candidate of the main opposition Republican People`s Party (CHP).

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan signalled on Saturday he favours a re-run of a mayoral election in Istanbul which resulted in a victory for the candidate of the main opposition Republican People`s Party (CHP). Erdogan's ruling AK Party, which also lost control of the capital Ankara in the March 31 mayoral elections, has already filed an appeal to Turkey`s High Election Board to annul the election in Istanbul due to what it says were irregularities and hold a fresh poll. "There is a controversy here, it`s clear. There is an irregularity here, that`s clear too. Let`s go to the people and see what they say and whatever the outcome, we will accept it," Erdogan told Turkish businesspeople in Istanbul.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan signals he backs re-run of contested Istanbul vote

A UN investigator on Thursday urged United Nations to provide justice to slain journalist<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/khashoggi-murder-planned-and-perpetrated-by-saudi-officials-un-expert-195896&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiQhP2lxdvhAhWw6XMBHQYmCPUQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3xT-CA2v91T0XsDAYpjpQw"> Jamal Khashoggi</a>, recommending that the "perpetrators" and the "masterminds" behind the murder should be "tried".

Agnes Callamard, an academic who leads an international probe into the killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, is expected to release her findings to the United Nations Rights Council before its next session in June.

"My report is ... going to spend a lot of time and pages on the next steps and the recommendations and how we provide accountability to Mr Khashoggi, to his family, friends and colleagues," Callamard told Al Jazeera on Thursday.

It will examine how "we ensure that the killing, and the vacuum the killing generated in terms of accountability so that we take steps to address the vacuum", she added.

"I am not a court of law. I cannot try the perpetrators. I can provide the information, I can recommend that the perpetrators and the masterminds be tried, but I cannot do that myself," Callamard said.

"You have to wait a few more months as I go through the various options, but you will find that in the report."

According to US intelligence agencies, Khashoggi`s murder was enacted upon orders given by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

However, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly rejected all the allegations against its Crown Prince, adding that it is committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Meanwhile, prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for five of the 11 people allegedly involved in Khashoggi`s murder.

If the accused are convicted and given death penalties, the Saudi justice system would allow Khashoggi`s family to grant mercy to the alleged murderers through the so-called "blood money" arrangement.

A UN investigator on Thursday urged United Nations to provide justice to slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, recommending that the "perpetrators" and the "masterminds" behind the murder should be "tried".

A UN investigator on Thursday urged United Nations to provide justice to slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, recommending that the "perpetrators" and the "masterminds" behind the murder should be "tried". Agnes Callamard, an academic who leads an international probe into the killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, is expected to release her findings to the United Nations Rights Council before its next session in June. "My report is ... going to spend a lot of time and pages on the next steps and the recommendations and how we provide accountability to Mr Khashoggi, to his family, friends and colleagues," Callamard told Al Jazeera on Thursday. It will examine how "we ensure that the killing, and the vacuum the killing generated in terms of accountability so that we take steps to address the vacuum", she added. "I am not a court of law. I cannot try the perpetrators. I can provide the information, I can recommend that the perpetrators and the masterminds be tried, but I cannot do that myself," Callamard said. "You have to wait a few more months as I go through the various options, but you will find that in the report." According to US intelligence agencies, Khashoggi`s murder was enacted upon orders given by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. However, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly rejected all the allegations against its Crown Prince, adding that it is committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice. Meanwhile, prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for five of the 11 people allegedly involved in Khashoggi`s murder. If the accused are convicted and given death penalties, the Saudi justice system would allow Khashoggi`s family to grant mercy to the alleged murderers through the so-called "blood money" arrangement.

Khashoggi murder perpetrators should be tried, says UN investigator

Turkey's main opposition candidate took office as Istanbul mayor on Wednesday after a stunning victory over President Tayyip Erdogan`s AK Party, but the new head of the country`s largest city still faces an appeal for the vote to be re-run.

The final result of the March 31 local elections gave a wafer-thin majority to the secularist opposition Republican People`s Party (CHP) in Turkey`s commercial hub, ending 25 years of control by the AK Party (AKP) and its Islamist predecessors.

The loss is especially hard for Erdogan who launched his political career in Istanbul as mayor in the 1990s and has triumphed in more than a dozen parliamentary, presidential and local polls since his party came to power in 2002.

The Turkish lira, which has dipped since the election, firmed on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Addressing thousands of flag-waving supporters outside the municipality building, Ekrem Imamoglu promised to work for all 16 million residents.

"We never gave up, we never gave up on our battle for democracy and rights," he said. "We are aware of our responsibilities and the needs of this city. We will start to serve immediately."

Imamoglu`s margin of victory - the final count put him about 13,000 votes, or less than 0.2 percentage points, ahead of the AK Party candidate and former prime minister Binali Yildirim - prompted several AKP challenges.

On Tuesday, after 16 days of appeals and recounts, the AKP asked the High Election Board to annul and re-run the election in Istanbul over what it said were irregularities. Its nationalist MHP allies made a similar request on Wednesday.

"I wish the decision will bring good. Democracy and law worked and the unnecessity of the raised tensions are seen," Yildirim said on Twitter after the mandate was given to Imamoglu, adding that the all legal rights are being used.

Imamoglu said he hoped that the election board would deal with the AKP challenge in a "just way", adding that he had won a mandate from the electorate, and only voters themselves could take that away.

"To everyone you see on your way home today, say: `A new beginning has arrived in Istanbul`," he told the crowd at his base in the city municipality.

"TOO MANY IRREGULARITIES"

The repeated challenges by the AKP and MHP have fuelled frustration among opposition supporters which spilled over into football stadiums at the weekend when fans chanted at top Istanbul derby matches for the mayoral mandate to be given to their candidate.

"There are way too many irregularities," AKP Deputy Chairman Ali Ihsan Yavuz said, presenting the party`s justification for its demand for a new vote. "We are saying that organised fraud, unlawfulness and crimes were committed."

CHP Deputy Chairman Muharrem Erkek responded that there were "no concrete documents, information or evidence in the AKP appeal for an annulment."

"There is no legitimate reason at all. You are using your right (to appeal) to damage the will of Istanbul," he said.&nbsp;

While the AKP was defeated in the battle for Istanbul mayor, results showed the party had won most seats in its municipal councils. The AKP`s re-run appeal applies only to the mayoral elections, not those for municipal councils.

Wolfango Piccoli, co-president of Teneo political risk advisers, said it was puzzling to call only for a re-run of the mayoral elections, and added that some of the areas where the AKP claimed fraud took place were under its responsibility.

Uncertainty over the election results has also put pressure on financial markets, pushing the lira down nearly 5 per cent.

"From the market perspective, an extended period of uncertainty around elections is a bad idea — it would suggest more election-related policy easing which is bad for the rebalancing story," Tim Ash, senior emerging markets strategist at BlueBay Asset Management, told Reuters.&nbsp;

Erdogan had vowed that Turkey would enter a four and half year period with no elections after March 31, during which the ailing economy would be the focus. If the AKP appeal is upheld, Istanbul, which makes up more than a third of Turkey`s economy, will head to polls again on June 2.

Turkey's main opposition candidate took office as Istanbul mayor on Wednesday after a stunning victory over President Tayyip Erdogan`s AK Party, but the new head of the country`s largest city still faces an appeal for the vote to be re-run.

Turkey's main opposition candidate took office as Istanbul mayor on Wednesday after a stunning victory over President Tayyip Erdogan`s AK Party, but the new head of the country`s largest city still faces an appeal for the vote to be re-run. The final result of the March 31 local elections gave a wafer-thin majority to the secularist opposition Republican People`s Party (CHP) in Turkey`s commercial hub, ending 25 years of control by the AK Party (AKP) and its Islamist predecessors. The loss is especially hard for Erdogan who launched his political career in Istanbul as mayor in the 1990s and has triumphed in more than a dozen parliamentary, presidential and local polls since his party came to power in 2002. The Turkish lira, which has dipped since the election, firmed on Wednesday. Addressing thousands of flag-waving supporters outside the municipality building, Ekrem Imamoglu promised to work for all 16 million residents. "We never gave up, we never gave up on our battle for democracy and rights," he said. "We are aware of our responsibilities and the needs of this city. We will start to serve immediately." Imamoglu`s margin of victory - the final count put him about 13,000 votes, or less than 0.2 percentage points, ahead of the AK Party candidate and former prime minister Binali Yildirim - prompted several AKP challenges. On Tuesday, after 16 days of appeals and recounts, the AKP asked the High Election Board to annul and re-run the election in Istanbul over what it said were irregularities. Its nationalist MHP allies made a similar request on Wednesday. "I wish the decision will bring good. Democracy and law worked and the unnecessity of the raised tensions are seen," Yildirim said on Twitter after the mandate was given to Imamoglu, adding that the all legal rights are being used. Imamoglu said he hoped that the election board would deal with the AKP challenge in a "just way", adding that he had won a mandate from the electorate, and only voters themselves could take that away. "To everyone you see on your way home today, say: `A new beginning has arrived in Istanbul`," he told the crowd at his base in the city municipality. "TOO MANY IRREGULARITIES" The repeated challenges by the AKP and MHP have fuelled frustration among opposition supporters which spilled over into football stadiums at the weekend when fans chanted at top Istanbul derby matches for the mayoral mandate to be given to their candidate. "There are way too many irregularities," AKP Deputy Chairman Ali Ihsan Yavuz said, presenting the party`s justification for its demand for a new vote. "We are saying that organised fraud, unlawfulness and crimes were committed." CHP Deputy Chairman Muharrem Erkek responded that there were "no concrete documents, information or evidence in the AKP appeal for an annulment." "There is no legitimate reason at all. You are using your right (to appeal) to damage the will of Istanbul," he said. While the AKP was defeated in the battle for Istanbul mayor, results showed the party had won most seats in its municipal councils. The AKP`s re-run appeal applies only to the mayoral elections, not those for municipal councils. Wolfango Piccoli, co-president of Teneo political risk advisers, said it was puzzling to call only for a re-run of the mayoral elections, and added that some of the areas where the AKP claimed fraud took place were under its responsibility. Uncertainty over the election results has also put pressure on financial markets, pushing the lira down nearly 5 per cent. "From the market perspective, an extended period of uncertainty around elections is a bad idea — it would suggest more election-related policy easing which is bad for the rebalancing story," Tim Ash, senior emerging markets strategist at BlueBay Asset Management, told Reuters. Erdogan had vowed that Turkey would enter a four and half year period with no elections after March 31, during which the ailing economy would be the focus. If the AKP appeal is upheld, Istanbul, which makes up more than a third of Turkey`s economy, will head to polls again on June 2.

Turkey's opposition takes office in Istanbul, re-run appeal still pending

Turkish President Tayyip <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-erdogans-ruling-akp-ready-to-accept-election-recount-results-208411">Erdogan's AK Party</a> formally requested on Tuesday an annulment and rerun of Istanbul's municipal elections over what it said were irregularities, prompting the main <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-opposition-says-ahead-in-istanbul-election-recount-208170">opposition </a>to accuse it of damaging democracy.

Initial results from the March 31 vote showed the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) narrowly won control of Turkey's largest city, thereby ending 25 years of control of a key power centre by the AKP and its Islamist predecessors.

The loss of Istanbul, Turkey's financial hub, would be a blow to Erdogan, who campaigned hard ahead of the vote. The post-vote uncertainty has kept financial markets on edge and contributed to a nearly 5 per cent slide in the lira.

In the 16 days since the election, the AKP has filed numerous appeals for vote recounts across Istanbul, a city of more than 15 million people. The High Election Board (YSK) has approved some of those objections, ordering partial or full recounts in several districts. Some are still underway.

Submitting his party's appeal for the annulment and renewal of the vote to the YSK on Tuesday, AKP Deputy Chairman Ali Ihsan Yavuz said thousands of votes had been impacted by the irregularities.

"There is clearly an organised unlawfulness, an election fraud here. The only authority that can end this controversy is the YSK," Yavuz told reporters in the capital Ankara.

The AKP has already lost control of Ankara and other key cities. Defeat in Istanbul, where Erdogan was mayor in the 1990s, would be an even greater setback to the president.

The AKP urged electoral officials to block the YSK from giving CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu his mayoral mandate after the Istanbul recounts are completed and a final result emerges.

CHP spokesman Faik Oztrak branded the AKP appeal for renewed elections as a "plot" and called on the YSK to mandate Imamoglu as the elected mayor of the city.

"The authority that will put a stop to this exploitation, who will hand the right the people gave to the person who earned it is the High Election Board," Oztrak told reporters.

"If there is security and predictability of the law in this country, then the YSK's decision should already be clear."

SUITCASES OF DOCUMENTS

The AKP's Yavuz said 16,884 votes were marked as either invalid or added to the tallies of other parties in the elections. He said the AKP had submitted three suitcases of documents to the YSK to prove the irregularities.

If the appeal is approved, a second election would take place on June 2. If rejected, the results would be finalised and the CHP's Ekrem Imamoglu would receive his mandate as mayor.

Yavuz said the gap between Imamoglu and his AKP rival, former Turkish prime minister Binali Yildirim, had fallen to 13,900 votes from around 28,000 as a result of the recounts.

If all votes had been recounted across the city the AKP would have won, Yavuz added.

The repeated AKP challenges have fuelled frustration among CHP supporters, which spilled over into football stadiums at the weekend when fans chanted at top Istanbul derby matches for the mayoral mandate to be given to their candidate.

Speaking on Tuesday to supporters chanting "give Imamoglu the mandate" in Istanbul, Imamoglu said the AKP actions harmed the credibility of Turkey's democracy.

"To those who said they carried what they call evidence in suitcases, I say: I think you are experiencing an eclipse of reasoning. Stop this, don't harm this nation, these people," he said.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party formally requested on Tuesday an annulment and rerun of Istanbul's municipal elections over what it said were irregularities, prompting the main opposition to accuse it of damaging democracy.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party formally requested on Tuesday an annulment and rerun of Istanbul's municipal elections over what it said were irregularities, prompting the main opposition to accuse it of damaging democracy. Initial results from the March 31 vote showed the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) narrowly won control of Turkey's largest city, thereby ending 25 years of control of a key power centre by the AKP and its Islamist predecessors. The loss of Istanbul, Turkey's financial hub, would be a blow to Erdogan, who campaigned hard ahead of the vote. The post-vote uncertainty has kept financial markets on edge and contributed to a nearly 5 per cent slide in the lira. In the 16 days since the election, the AKP has filed numerous appeals for vote recounts across Istanbul, a city of more than 15 million people. The High Election Board (YSK) has approved some of those objections, ordering partial or full recounts in several districts. Some are still underway. Submitting his party's appeal for the annulment and renewal of the vote to the YSK on Tuesday, AKP Deputy Chairman Ali Ihsan Yavuz said thousands of votes had been impacted by the irregularities. "There is clearly an organised unlawfulness, an election fraud here. The only authority that can end this controversy is the YSK," Yavuz told reporters in the capital Ankara. The AKP has already lost control of Ankara and other key cities. Defeat in Istanbul, where Erdogan was mayor in the 1990s, would be an even greater setback to the president. The AKP urged electoral officials to block the YSK from giving CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu his mayoral mandate after the Istanbul recounts are completed and a final result emerges. CHP spokesman Faik Oztrak branded the AKP appeal for renewed elections as a "plot" and called on the YSK to mandate Imamoglu as the elected mayor of the city. "The authority that will put a stop to this exploitation, who will hand the right the people gave to the person who earned it is the High Election Board," Oztrak told reporters. "If there is security and predictability of the law in this country, then the YSK's decision should already be clear." SUITCASES OF DOCUMENTS The AKP's Yavuz said 16,884 votes were marked as either invalid or added to the tallies of other parties in the elections. He said the AKP had submitted three suitcases of documents to the YSK to prove the irregularities. If the appeal is approved, a second election would take place on June 2. If rejected, the results would be finalised and the CHP's Ekrem Imamoglu would receive his mandate as mayor. Yavuz said the gap between Imamoglu and his AKP rival, former Turkish prime minister Binali Yildirim, had fallen to 13,900 votes from around 28,000 as a result of the recounts. If all votes had been recounted across the city the AKP would have won, Yavuz added. The repeated AKP challenges have fuelled frustration among CHP supporters, which spilled over into football stadiums at the weekend when fans chanted at top Istanbul derby matches for the mayoral mandate to be given to their candidate. Speaking on Tuesday to supporters chanting "give Imamoglu the mandate" in Istanbul, Imamoglu said the AKP actions harmed the credibility of Turkey's democracy. "To those who said they carried what they call evidence in suitcases, I say: I think you are experiencing an eclipse of reasoning. Stop this, don't harm this nation, these people," he said.

Erdogan's AK Party calls for rerun of Istanbul elections

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party said Tuesday it wants the Istanbul mayoral election to be repeated after the Supreme Electoral Council rejected a demand for a recount of all ballots cast in the city.

The AKP had appealed after results showed its Istanbul candidate narrowly lost in last week's local election in what would be a major setback for the party after a decade and a half in power.&nbsp;

"We will take the path of extraordinary appeal... We will say that we want the election in Istanbul to be repeated," the AKP's deputy chairman Ali Ihsan Yavuz told reporters in Ankara.

Electoral authorities would have to decide whether the AKP has a case for a rerun of the Istanbul ballot after a very tight race for the city's mayor.

Former prime minister Binali Yildirim was the AKP's candidate against the main opposition CHP's Ekrem Imamoglu, an ex-mayor of one of Istanbul's districts.

Imamoglu beat Yildirim by around 28,000 votes according to the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) last week but after a recount of nulled votes, the difference between them narrowed.

The AKP earlier Tuesday said the difference between Imamoglu and Yildirim was now 14,604 ballots, while the latest number from the CHP was at 14,463.

The AKP had appealed to the YSK for another recount of all Istanbul votes but this was rejected. The council ruled for only a partial recount of 51 ballot boxes in 21 districts.

"Everyone has to abide by the YSK decisions but we have the right to criticise these decisions. Really, I don't understand the decision to recount 51 ballot boxes," Yavuz said.

The YSK had delayed a decision on one Istanbul district, Buyukcekmece, because of an investigation into fraud claims.

Yavuz said the AKP was making an extraordinary appeal regarding Buyukcekmece "because there are different kinds of irregularities there".

Istanbul police were investigating claims 11,186 people changed their addresses to Buyukcekmece before the local elections, DHA news agency reported earlier on Tuesday.

"There has been some kind of organised goings-on everywhere in Istanbul," Yavuz added without giving further details.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party said Tuesday it wants the Istanbul mayoral election to be repeated after the Supreme Electoral Council rejected a demand for a recount of all ballots cast in the city.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party said Tuesday it wants the Istanbul mayoral election to be repeated after the Supreme Electoral Council rejected a demand for a recount of all ballots cast in the city. The AKP had appealed after results showed its Istanbul candidate narrowly lost in last week's local election in what would be a major setback for the party after a decade and a half in power. "We will take the path of extraordinary appeal... We will say that we want the election in Istanbul to be repeated," the AKP's deputy chairman Ali Ihsan Yavuz told reporters in Ankara. Electoral authorities would have to decide whether the AKP has a case for a rerun of the Istanbul ballot after a very tight race for the city's mayor. Former prime minister Binali Yildirim was the AKP's candidate against the main opposition CHP's Ekrem Imamoglu, an ex-mayor of one of Istanbul's districts. Imamoglu beat Yildirim by around 28,000 votes according to the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) last week but after a recount of nulled votes, the difference between them narrowed. The AKP earlier Tuesday said the difference between Imamoglu and Yildirim was now 14,604 ballots, while the latest number from the CHP was at 14,463. The AKP had appealed to the YSK for another recount of all Istanbul votes but this was rejected. The council ruled for only a partial recount of 51 ballot boxes in 21 districts. "Everyone has to abide by the YSK decisions but we have the right to criticise these decisions. Really, I don't understand the decision to recount 51 ballot boxes," Yavuz said. The YSK had delayed a decision on one Istanbul district, Buyukcekmece, because of an investigation into fraud claims. Yavuz said the AKP was making an extraordinary appeal regarding Buyukcekmece "because there are different kinds of irregularities there". Istanbul police were investigating claims 11,186 people changed their addresses to Buyukcekmece before the local elections, DHA news agency reported earlier on Tuesday. "There has been some kind of organised goings-on everywhere in Istanbul," Yavuz added without giving further details.

Erdogan's party wants rerun of Istanbul election: Official

Turkish President<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/videos/recep-tayyip-erdogan-loses-control-of-ankara-in-turkish-elections-207267&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwizivzSpsDhAhWljuYKHZ8SD9AQFggEMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2FYtZFxCwF-3kjZGMIp-q6"> Tayyip Erdogan</a> said on Monday the margin of votes between Istanbul's top two candidates was too small for the opposition to have claimed victory, as his ruling party seeks a full recount to deal with what he called "organised crime."

Last week's initial results showed a narrow mayoral victory for Turkey's main opposition <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/videos/global-leadership-series-recep-tayyip-erdogans-full-interview-with-wion-3178&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwizivzSpsDhAhWljuYKHZ8SD9AQFggGMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0qp_iUD4H4sm-9ALfvzByg">Republican People's Party</a> (CHP) in the March 31 municipal elections.

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-president-erdogan-says-his-party-may-have-lost-istanbul-mayorship-207065&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwizivzSpsDhAhWljuYKHZ8SD9AQFggJMAI&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1SboyiEh0aEx_Zn3cPpn17">Erdogan's AK Party</a> (AKP) had appealed the initial results in all 39 districts of Istanbul, leading to partial or full recounts across Turkey's largest city, which has some 10 million voters. On Sunday AKP said it sought a full recount.

"The citizens are telling us to protect their rights, they are complaining of organised crimes. And we, as political parties, have determined such organised crimes," Erdogan told a press conference in Istanbul.

Erdogan's AKP is reeling from its apparent loss of Istanbul and the capital Ankara, both cities which the party and its Islamist predecessors have dominated for a quarter of a century. Erdogan himself rose to prominence as Istanbul's mayor in the 1990s before emerging as a national leader.

Erdogan said he would only accept the result when the High Electoral Board (YSK) has processed all the appeals.

"Nobody has the right to get in an election victory mood in a city of 10 million voters with a margin of 13,000-14,000," he said. "When the appeals have been completed, we will accept the result."

So far the initial lead held by Ekrem Imamoglu, mayoral candidate for the secularist CHP, has narrowed from 25,000 immediately after the vote to a little less than 16,000 after more than 90 per cent of the recounts were completed.

Main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu warned of election security and called on the YSK to be impartial, saying that Erdogan's request for a full recount lacked a reasonable justification.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday the margin of votes between Istanbul's top two candidates was too small for the opposition to have claimed victory, as his ruling party seeks a full recount to deal with what he called "organised crime.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday the margin of votes between Istanbul's top two candidates was too small for the opposition to have claimed victory, as his ruling party seeks a full recount to deal with what he called "organised crime." Last week's initial results showed a narrow mayoral victory for Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in the March 31 municipal elections. Erdogan's AK Party (AKP) had appealed the initial results in all 39 districts of Istanbul, leading to partial or full recounts across Turkey's largest city, which has some 10 million voters. On Sunday AKP said it sought a full recount. "The citizens are telling us to protect their rights, they are complaining of organised crimes. And we, as political parties, have determined such organised crimes," Erdogan told a press conference in Istanbul. Erdogan's AKP is reeling from its apparent loss of Istanbul and the capital Ankara, both cities which the party and its Islamist predecessors have dominated for a quarter of a century. Erdogan himself rose to prominence as Istanbul's mayor in the 1990s before emerging as a national leader. Erdogan said he would only accept the result when the High Electoral Board (YSK) has processed all the appeals. "Nobody has the right to get in an election victory mood in a city of 10 million voters with a margin of 13,000-14,000," he said. "When the appeals have been completed, we will accept the result." So far the initial lead held by Ekrem Imamoglu, mayoral candidate for the secularist CHP, has narrowed from 25,000 immediately after the vote to a little less than 16,000 after more than 90 per cent of the recounts were completed. Main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu warned of election security and called on the YSK to be impartial, saying that Erdogan's request for a full recount lacked a reasonable justification.

Erdogan says margin too small for opposition to claim Istanbul win

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/erdogan-says-russia-missile-deal-to-go-ahead-after-us-suspension-208201">Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan</a>'s ruling AKP will accept the results of local election recounts in Ankara and Istanbul no matter which party is declared the winner, a party spokesman said on Saturday.

The AKP won most votes nationwide in last Sunday's election, but results showed the ruling party lost Ankara and was also narrowly defeated in Istanbul in what would be one of their worst setbacks in a decade and a half in power.

Electoral authorities are conducting a recount in scores of districts in Ankara and in Istanbul where tallies showed the opposition CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu with a very slim lead over the AKP.

"At the end of the day, we will accept the final result regardless of whether it is to our advantage or disadvantage," AKP spokesman Omer Celik told a briefing for the foreign press in Istanbul.

Voters may have punished the AKP at the ballot box, with Turkey's economy in recession after a currency crisis last year that hit Turkish households hard when the lira lost 30 per cent of its value.

Losing Istanbul would be a blow to Erdogan, who built his political career as mayor of the city before becoming prime minister and later president.

In Istanbul, CHP candidate Imamoglu and the AKP's Binali Yildirim both declared victory when preliminary results showed them in a dead heat.

The AKP later appealed saying it had found irregularities in tens of thousands of votes.

Imamoglu's party said on Saturday he was still ahead by close to 18,000 votes with half of the recount completed. He has said he expects the recount to be finished by the end of the weekend, but the AKP could still appeal again to the Supreme Electoral Council.

Celik said the AKP would still control districts and municipal councils in both of the key cities even if they lost the mayor's offices. But he said the party would not deliberately block opposition mayor's agendas.

Erdogan, in power for 16 years, fought hard before the vote, holding rallies across Turkey where he described the election of mayors and district councils as a battle for the nation's survival.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AKP will accept the results of local election recounts in Ankara and Istanbul no matter which party is declared the winner, a party spokesman said on Saturday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AKP will accept the results of local election recounts in Ankara and Istanbul no matter which party is declared the winner, a party spokesman said on Saturday. The AKP won most votes nationwide in last Sunday's election, but results showed the ruling party lost Ankara and was also narrowly defeated in Istanbul in what would be one of their worst setbacks in a decade and a half in power. Electoral authorities are conducting a recount in scores of districts in Ankara and in Istanbul where tallies showed the opposition CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu with a very slim lead over the AKP. "At the end of the day, we will accept the final result regardless of whether it is to our advantage or disadvantage," AKP spokesman Omer Celik told a briefing for the foreign press in Istanbul. Voters may have punished the AKP at the ballot box, with Turkey's economy in recession after a currency crisis last year that hit Turkish households hard when the lira lost 30 per cent of its value. Losing Istanbul would be a blow to Erdogan, who built his political career as mayor of the city before becoming prime minister and later president. In Istanbul, CHP candidate Imamoglu and the AKP's Binali Yildirim both declared victory when preliminary results showed them in a dead heat. The AKP later appealed saying it had found irregularities in tens of thousands of votes. Imamoglu's party said on Saturday he was still ahead by close to 18,000 votes with half of the recount completed. He has said he expects the recount to be finished by the end of the weekend, but the AKP could still appeal again to the Supreme Electoral Council. Celik said the AKP would still control districts and municipal councils in both of the key cities even if they lost the mayor's offices. But he said the party would not deliberately block opposition mayor's agendas. Erdogan, in power for 16 years, fought hard before the vote, holding rallies across Turkey where he described the election of mayors and district councils as a battle for the nation's survival.

Turkey: Erdogan's ruling AKP ready to accept election recount results

Saudi Arabia has arrested at least nine writers and academics, including two US citizens, in an apparent crackdown on supporters of detained women activists whose trial has drawn global censure, campaigners said Friday.

News of the arrests came the morning after US lawmakers voted to end military support for a Saudi-led war in neighbouring Yemen, which has triggered what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

It also marks the first major crackdown since the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last October, which sparked unprecedented international scrutiny of the kingdom's human rights record.

Campaigners identified the US-Saudi dual nationals as a writer and doctor Bader al-Ibrahim and Salah al-Haidar, the son of Aziza al-Yousef -- a high-profile activist who was temporarily released last week but remains on trial along with other women campaigners.

The latest roundup started on Thursday, a day after the 11 women -- some of whom accused interrogators of torture and sexual abuse in detention -- returned to court to face charges that include contact with foreign media, diplomats and human rights groups.

London-based rights group ALQST identified eight arrested writers, bloggers and academics -- including a pregnant woman -- adding that the crackdown was linked to their support of female activists on trial.

Another public intellectual, university lecturer Anas al-Mazrou, was detained last month after he expressed solidarity with the detained women during a panel discussion at the Riyadh book fair, it added.

Prisoners of Conscience, a Saudi group that tracks political prisoners, put the number of people arrested at 10.

Many of those arrested face travel bans, campaigners said.

"Saudi authorities seem to be hellbent on silencing anyone who dares to speak up or even voice their opinions privately and publicly," Amnesty International's Middle East campaigns director Samah Hadid told AFP.

"This goes beyond just attacking activists and now seems to target different segments of society. This is a dangerous pattern."&nbsp;

Pressure to stay silent&nbsp;

There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities or the US embassy in Riyadh.

"What is disturbing about new Saudi arrests is that waves of arrests keep moving from most-known to successively lesser knowns," Saudi-American activist Nora Abdulkarim said on Twitter.

"Another confusing aspect is timing, leaves one asking: 'why now?'"

Riyadh has faced pressure from major Western powers to release the women on trial, most of whom were detained last summer in a wide-ranging crackdown against activists just before the historic lifting of a decades-long ban on female motorists.

Three of them -- activist Aziza al-Yousef, blogger Eman al-Nafjan and preacher Rokaya al-Mohareb -- were granted temporary release last week.

Before their provisional release, the three freed women and their bail guarantors were made to sign a pledge that they will stay away from the media, according to multiple people with access to the trial.

The siblings of one of the prominent detainees, activist Loujain al-Hathloul, this week said they were being pressured by people close to the Saudi state to stay silent over her treatment in detention.

People close to the Saudi establishment have warned that public criticism by family members could prolong their detention.

"A reminder: we are not going to stay silent," Loujain's sister Alia al-Hathloul tweeted on Friday.

At an emotionally charged hearing last week, some women broke down as they accused interrogators of subjecting them to electric shocks, flogging and groping in detention, two people with access to the trial told AFP.

A Saudi prosecutor roundly rejected the accusations in the latest court hearing on Wednesday, witnesses said, reiterating the government's stance.

The next hearing in the trial, which foreign media and diplomats are barred from attending, is scheduled for April 17, activists say.

Saudi Arabia has arrested at least nine writers and academics, including two US citizens, in an apparent crackdown on supporters of detained women activists whose trial has drawn global censure, campaigners said Friday.

Saudi Arabia has arrested at least nine writers and academics, including two US citizens, in an apparent crackdown on supporters of detained women activists whose trial has drawn global censure, campaigners said Friday. News of the arrests came the morning after US lawmakers voted to end military support for a Saudi-led war in neighbouring Yemen, which has triggered what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. It also marks the first major crackdown since the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last October, which sparked unprecedented international scrutiny of the kingdom's human rights record. Campaigners identified the US-Saudi dual nationals as a writer and doctor Bader al-Ibrahim and Salah al-Haidar, the son of Aziza al-Yousef -- a high-profile activist who was temporarily released last week but remains on trial along with other women campaigners. The latest roundup started on Thursday, a day after the 11 women -- some of whom accused interrogators of torture and sexual abuse in detention -- returned to court to face charges that include contact with foreign media, diplomats and human rights groups. London-based rights group ALQST identified eight arrested writers, bloggers and academics -- including a pregnant woman -- adding that the crackdown was linked to their support of female activists on trial. Another public intellectual, university lecturer Anas al-Mazrou, was detained last month after he expressed solidarity with the detained women during a panel discussion at the Riyadh book fair, it added. Prisoners of Conscience, a Saudi group that tracks political prisoners, put the number of people arrested at 10. Many of those arrested face travel bans, campaigners said. "Saudi authorities seem to be hellbent on silencing anyone who dares to speak up or even voice their opinions privately and publicly," Amnesty International's Middle East campaigns director Samah Hadid told AFP. "This goes beyond just attacking activists and now seems to target different segments of society. This is a dangerous pattern." Pressure to stay silent There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities or the US embassy in Riyadh. "What is disturbing about new Saudi arrests is that waves of arrests keep moving from most-known to successively lesser knowns," Saudi-American activist Nora Abdulkarim said on Twitter. "Another confusing aspect is timing, leaves one asking: 'why now?'" Riyadh has faced pressure from major Western powers to release the women on trial, most of whom were detained last summer in a wide-ranging crackdown against activists just before the historic lifting of a decades-long ban on female motorists. Three of them -- activist Aziza al-Yousef, blogger Eman al-Nafjan and preacher Rokaya al-Mohareb -- were granted temporary release last week. Before their provisional release, the three freed women and their bail guarantors were made to sign a pledge that they will stay away from the media, according to multiple people with access to the trial. The siblings of one of the prominent detainees, activist Loujain al-Hathloul, this week said they were being pressured by people close to the Saudi state to stay silent over her treatment in detention. People close to the Saudi establishment have warned that public criticism by family members could prolong their detention. "A reminder: we are not going to stay silent," Loujain's sister Alia al-Hathloul tweeted on Friday. At an emotionally charged hearing last week, some women broke down as they accused interrogators of subjecting them to electric shocks, flogging and groping in detention, two people with access to the trial told AFP. A Saudi prosecutor roundly rejected the accusations in the latest court hearing on Wednesday, witnesses said, reiterating the government's stance. The next hearing in the trial, which foreign media and diplomats are barred from attending, is scheduled for April 17, activists say.

US citizens among nine held in Saudi crackdown: Activists

Turkey's opposition candidate for Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said Friday he was still winning by nearly 19,000 votes after the ruling AKP demanded a recount following Sunday's tight election race.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/erdogan-party-appeals-istanbul-ankara-results-after-turkey-vote-207575">President Recep Tayyip Erdogan</a> and his AKP suffered an upset in local elections when results showed the party lost the capital Ankara and was narrowly defeated in Istanbul, the country's largest city and economic hub.

The two rival Istanbul candidates declared victory soon after the vote when initial results showed them in a dead heat. AKP appealed after electoral authorities later said Imamoglu had taken a very slim lead.&nbsp;

In an interview with Fox Haber broadcaster, CHP opposition candidate Imamoglu said the difference between himself and the AKP's candidate, Binali Yildirim, was now 18,742 votes.

He said nearly 120,000 previously annulled votes had been recounted in 17 Istanbul districts, with 2,184 extra votes being allowed for Yildirim, and 785 for himself.

Imamoglu estimated the final difference could finish between 18,000 to 20,000 once counting ended, probably by Sunday. Nearly 200,000 more votes still need to be recounted, he said.

"It should be over by the end of the weekend," he told the station.

The AKP has said the recount will show its candidate won.

Election authorities provide ongoing recount details to observers from both parties to ensure transparency. Political parties have until April 10 to challenge the results.

A defeat in Istanbul would be especially sensitive for Erdogan who made his political career as mayor of the city. The AKP or its predecessors had held both cities since 1994.

Cost of living&nbsp;

Erdogan fought hard before the vote, holding rallies across Turkey where he described the election of mayors and district councils as a battle for the nation's survival.

But voters, concerned with the rising cost of living, double-digit inflation and unemployment, opted for the opposition in the country's two biggest cities.

AKP secretary general Fatih Sahin on Thursday said the party would also appeal to the Ankara provincial election board for the city's 25 districts for another recount.

Opposition candidate Mansur Yavas of the CHP beat AKP's Mehmet Ozhaseki in Ankara, according to preliminary results.&nbsp;

After an initial recount in Ankara, Ozhaseki got 1,805 extra votes, prompting the party to appeal to the next level of electoral authorities as is allowed by law.

"This result is far from what we expected," Sahin said.

AKP spokesman Omer Celik on Thursday said the party would respect the results and congratulate the winners "once the people's will has been clearly seen".

AKP officials have said they believe there was a huge discrepancy in both cities between ballots cast at polling stations and the actual data sent to election authorities.

Turkey's opposition candidate for Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said Friday he was still winning by nearly 19,000 votes after the ruling AKP demanded a recount following Sunday's tight election race.

Turkey's opposition candidate for Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said Friday he was still winning by nearly 19,000 votes after the ruling AKP demanded a recount following Sunday's tight election race. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his AKP suffered an upset in local elections when results showed the party lost the capital Ankara and was narrowly defeated in Istanbul, the country's largest city and economic hub. The two rival Istanbul candidates declared victory soon after the vote when initial results showed them in a dead heat. AKP appealed after electoral authorities later said Imamoglu had taken a very slim lead. In an interview with Fox Haber broadcaster, CHP opposition candidate Imamoglu said the difference between himself and the AKP's candidate, Binali Yildirim, was now 18,742 votes. He said nearly 120,000 previously annulled votes had been recounted in 17 Istanbul districts, with 2,184 extra votes being allowed for Yildirim, and 785 for himself. Imamoglu estimated the final difference could finish between 18,000 to 20,000 once counting ended, probably by Sunday. Nearly 200,000 more votes still need to be recounted, he said. "It should be over by the end of the weekend," he told the station. The AKP has said the recount will show its candidate won. Election authorities provide ongoing recount details to observers from both parties to ensure transparency. Political parties have until April 10 to challenge the results. A defeat in Istanbul would be especially sensitive for Erdogan who made his political career as mayor of the city. The AKP or its predecessors had held both cities since 1994. Cost of living Erdogan fought hard before the vote, holding rallies across Turkey where he described the election of mayors and district councils as a battle for the nation's survival. But voters, concerned with the rising cost of living, double-digit inflation and unemployment, opted for the opposition in the country's two biggest cities. AKP secretary general Fatih Sahin on Thursday said the party would also appeal to the Ankara provincial election board for the city's 25 districts for another recount. Opposition candidate Mansur Yavas of the CHP beat AKP's Mehmet Ozhaseki in Ankara, according to preliminary results. After an initial recount in Ankara, Ozhaseki got 1,805 extra votes, prompting the party to appeal to the next level of electoral authorities as is allowed by law. "This result is far from what we expected," Sahin said. AKP spokesman Omer Celik on Thursday said the party would respect the results and congratulate the winners "once the people's will has been clearly seen". AKP officials have said they believe there was a huge discrepancy in both cities between ballots cast at polling stations and the actual data sent to election authorities.

Turkey opposition says ahead in Istanbul election recount

Turkish electoral authorities on Wednesday began a vote recount of Istanbul districts after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AKP challenged tallies showing an opposition candidate won a weekend local election.

The AKP won most votes nationwide in Sunday's ballot but results also showed the party lost the capital Ankara and the country's economic hub Istanbul.

AKP officials on Tuesday filed a challenge with electoral authorities saying they had found irregularities and falsifications in ballots in Ankara and Istanbul.

"The district branches of the electoral board in Istanbul decided to recount the ballots in eight districts after the appeals yesterday," Supreme Election Board chief Sadi Guven told reporters.

He said some of the district branches had already started rechecking ballots, most of which were votes that had been rejected as invalid.

AKP officials had said there was a huge discrepancy between ballots cast at polling stations and data sent to election authorities.

Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, was a key prize for Erdogan and he had former premier and loyalist Binali Yildirim run as the party candidate for mayor.

Erdogan, himself a former Istanbul mayor, had campaigned hard in the city. But the ruling party was stung by the economy with Turkey in recession for the first time in a decade and inflation in double digits.

Istanbul was a tight race and both Yildirim and the opposition CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu declared victory when tallies showed them in a dead heat.

Electoral authorities on Monday said Imamoglu was ahead by 28,000 votes with nearly all ballot boxes tallied, prompting AKP officials to challenge to the result.

AKP deputy chairman Ali Ihsan Yavuz on Tuesday claimed the difference had dipped to 20,509 between Imamoglu and Yildirim.

Imamoglu had 48.79 per cent of the votes while Yildirim had 48.52 per cent, Anadolu reported on Tuesday, citing preliminary results.

The agency reported close to 300,000 votes had been annulled in Istanbul voting.

A loss in Istanbul would be especially sensitive for Erdogan, who grew up in the city's working-class Kasimpasa neighbourhood and liked to tell AKP rank-and-file that victory in the city was like winning Turkey.

Turkish electoral authorities on Wednesday began a vote recount of Istanbul districts after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AKP challenged tallies showing an opposition candidate won a weekend local election.

Turkish electoral authorities on Wednesday began a vote recount of Istanbul districts after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AKP challenged tallies showing an opposition candidate won a weekend local election. The AKP won most votes nationwide in Sunday's ballot but results also showed the party lost the capital Ankara and the country's economic hub Istanbul. AKP officials on Tuesday filed a challenge with electoral authorities saying they had found irregularities and falsifications in ballots in Ankara and Istanbul. "The district branches of the electoral board in Istanbul decided to recount the ballots in eight districts after the appeals yesterday," Supreme Election Board chief Sadi Guven told reporters. He said some of the district branches had already started rechecking ballots, most of which were votes that had been rejected as invalid. AKP officials had said there was a huge discrepancy between ballots cast at polling stations and data sent to election authorities. Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, was a key prize for Erdogan and he had former premier and loyalist Binali Yildirim run as the party candidate for mayor. Erdogan, himself a former Istanbul mayor, had campaigned hard in the city. But the ruling party was stung by the economy with Turkey in recession for the first time in a decade and inflation in double digits. Istanbul was a tight race and both Yildirim and the opposition CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu declared victory when tallies showed them in a dead heat. Electoral authorities on Monday said Imamoglu was ahead by 28,000 votes with nearly all ballot boxes tallied, prompting AKP officials to challenge to the result. AKP deputy chairman Ali Ihsan Yavuz on Tuesday claimed the difference had dipped to 20,509 between Imamoglu and Yildirim. Imamoglu had 48.79 per cent of the votes while Yildirim had 48.52 per cent, Anadolu reported on Tuesday, citing preliminary results. The agency reported close to 300,000 votes had been annulled in Istanbul voting. A loss in Istanbul would be especially sensitive for Erdogan, who grew up in the city's working-class Kasimpasa neighbourhood and liked to tell AKP rank-and-file that victory in the city was like winning Turkey.

Turkey election council orders Istanbul recount after ruling party appeal

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP on Tuesday appealed against results in Istanbul and Ankara following a weekend election after tallies showed the ruling party lost both key cities.

Erdogan's AKP and coalition partner won more than 50 percent of votes nationwide in Sunday's local ballot, but defeat in both Turkey's capital and its economic hub would be a setback after the party's decade and a half in power.

The AKP appeals with electoral authorities, who have two days to decide whether the claims of irregularities have merit, may signal more ruling party challenges to the surprise opposition victories.

"We have filed our objections with the electoral authorities in all 39 districts," AKP's Istanbul chief Bayram Senocak told reporters. "We have identified irregularities and falsifications."

He said the party had found an "excessive" difference between votes cast at ballot stations for their candidate and the data sent to electoral authorities.

Hakan Han Ozcan, AKP's Ankara chairman, told reporters they were also filing an appeal in 25 districts of the capital. Anadolu state news agency said results showed CHP opposition candidate Mansur Yavas with 50.93 percent of votes against 47.11 percent for the AKP.

Istanbul, the largest city in the country, was a key prize for Erdogan and he had fielded former premier and loyalist Binali Yildirim as candidate for mayor.

But Istanbul was a very tight race and both Yildirim and the opposition CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu claimed victory in the early hours of Monday when tallies showed them in a dead heat.

Symbolic gesture 
Electoral authorities on Monday announced Imamoglu was ahead by 28,000 votes with nearly all ballot boxes tallied, prompting AKP officials to challenge to the result.

Imamoglu had 48.79 percent of the votes while Yildirim had 48.52 percent, Anadolu reported on Tuesday, citing preliminary results.

Imamoglu on Tuesday travelled to Ankara to lay flowers at the mausoleum of modern Turkey's founder Musfafa Kemal Ataturk in a highly symbolic gesture Erdogan often does himself soon after his election wins.

"Had the other party won, I would have said 'congratulations Mr Binali Yildirim', which I do not say because I am the one who won," Imamoglu told reporters.

"They are behaving like a kid who has been deprived of his toy."

AKP party spokesman Omer Celik on Monday had said they had found discrepancies between reports from polling stations and vote counts in both Ankara and Istanbul.

Erdogan, himself a former Istanbul mayor, had campaigned hard in the city. But the ruling party may have been stung by the economy with Turkey in recession for the first time since 2009 and inflation in double digits. 
&nbsp;

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP on Tuesday appealed against results in Istanbul and Ankara following a weekend election after tallies showed the ruling party lost both key cities.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP on Tuesday appealed against results in Istanbul and Ankara following a weekend election after tallies showed the ruling party lost both key cities. Erdogan's AKP and coalition partner won more than 50 percent of votes nationwide in Sunday's local ballot, but defeat in both Turkey's capital and its economic hub would be a setback after the party's decade and a half in power. The AKP appeals with electoral authorities, who have two days to decide whether the claims of irregularities have merit, may signal more ruling party challenges to the surprise opposition victories. "We have filed our objections with the electoral authorities in all 39 districts," AKP's Istanbul chief Bayram Senocak told reporters. "We have identified irregularities and falsifications." He said the party had found an "excessive" difference between votes cast at ballot stations for their candidate and the data sent to electoral authorities. Hakan Han Ozcan, AKP's Ankara chairman, told reporters they were also filing an appeal in 25 districts of the capital. Anadolu state news agency said results showed CHP opposition candidate Mansur Yavas with 50.93 percent of votes against 47.11 percent for the AKP. Istanbul, the largest city in the country, was a key prize for Erdogan and he had fielded former premier and loyalist Binali Yildirim as candidate for mayor. But Istanbul was a very tight race and both Yildirim and the opposition CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu claimed victory in the early hours of Monday when tallies showed them in a dead heat. Symbolic gesture Electoral authorities on Monday announced Imamoglu was ahead by 28,000 votes with nearly all ballot boxes tallied, prompting AKP officials to challenge to the result. Imamoglu had 48.79 percent of the votes while Yildirim had 48.52 percent, Anadolu reported on Tuesday, citing preliminary results. Imamoglu on Tuesday travelled to Ankara to lay flowers at the mausoleum of modern Turkey's founder Musfafa Kemal Ataturk in a highly symbolic gesture Erdogan often does himself soon after his election wins. "Had the other party won, I would have said 'congratulations Mr Binali Yildirim', which I do not say because I am the one who won," Imamoglu told reporters. "They are behaving like a kid who has been deprived of his toy." AKP party spokesman Omer Celik on Monday had said they had found discrepancies between reports from polling stations and vote counts in both Ankara and Istanbul. Erdogan, himself a former Istanbul mayor, had campaigned hard in the city. But the ruling party may have been stung by the economy with Turkey in recession for the first time since 2009 and inflation in double digits.

Erdogan party appeals Istanbul, Ankara results after Turkey vote

Turkey voted in local elections on Sunday in a test for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with his ruling party fighting to keep hold of the country's two key cities as an economic slowdown takes hold.

Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) have won every vote since the party first came to power in 2002 but this time, analysts say, the party risks losing Turkey's capital Ankara and even its economic hub Istanbul.

Sunday's poll was the first municipal ballot since Turks approved constitutional reforms in 2017 to create an executive presidency that gave Erdogan wider powers after a decade and a half in office.

But Erdogan, whose ability to win continuously at the ballot box is unparalleled in Turkish history, appears more vulnerable with the country's economy in recession, unemployment up and inflation in double digits.

Voting closed at 1400 GMT in Sunday's ballot, which was held mostly without incident, with the exception of the deaths of two men killed in a fight at a polling station in the east of Turkey.

Much of the AKP's success has been down to his perceived economic prowess, but days before the vote, the Turkish lira was sliding again, provoking memories of the 2018 currency crisis that badly hurt Turkish households.

Erdogan, who began his own political career as Istanbul mayor, personally campaigned hard across Turkey, often with several rallies a day, even though he is not on the ballot.

Looking to galvanize his base among conservative Turks, the president cast the election as a matter of survival, attacking opposition candidates by branding them as linked to PKK Kurdish militants.

"The economy is terrible," said Husnu Acar, 53, after voting in a school in Beylikduzu on the outskirts of Istanbul.

"They are the ones with a survival problem," he said of the AKP.

Voters are to elect scores of mayors, municipal councils and other local officials. Preliminary results are expected soon after polls close with official results released early in the week.

Two members of Saadet (Felicity), a religiously conservative party, were killed after an attack by an AKP candidate's nephew in a polling station in Malatya, eastern Turkey, Saadet chairman Temel Karamollaoglu said on Twitter.&nbsp;

The two men, one of whom was also an election observer, died after a fight between two groups in Puturge district, private DHA news agency reported. The Malatya governorate said four individuals were detained.

Erdogan said the incident was "upsetting" after he voted in Istanbul, and he called Karamollaoglu shortly afterwards to offer his condolences, the presidency said.

Charges of an unfair vote 
For his supporters, Erdogan remains the strong leader they believe Turkey needs and they tout the country's economic development over the 16 years he and the AKP have been in power.&nbsp;

But rights activists and even Turkey's Western allies say that under his leadership, democracy has been eroded, particularly after a failed 2016 coup that led to tens of thousands of people being arrested.

"The economy isn't doing so good for sure, but I have confidence in our president and things will be better after the election," said Koksal Karacan, a retiree voting in Istanbul's Kasimpasa, where Erdogan grew up.

The vote will be the first time since 2002 that the AKP is fielding candidates with its alliance partner, the rightwing Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

The opposition pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has refused to field candidates in several cities, saying the elections are unfair. Some of its leaders have been jailed on terror charges, accusations they reject.

The HDP criticised the detentions of candidates and its members in the run-up to the vote in a statement on Sunday, accusing the government of trying "to paralyse the HDP organisationally, and render the playing field even more uneven".

Observers say that with most media either pro-government or controlled by the president's supporters, opposition parties campaigned at a disadvantage because Erdogan's daily rallies dominated TV coverage.

"What has happened during the campaign for Sunday's local elections is unprecedented and demonstrates that — unlike during its first years in power — the AKP is no longer confident of being able to win a fair election," said Gareth Jenkins, a non-resident senior research fellow at the Silk Road Studies Programme.

'Boss of the economy' 
In Istanbul, where the race is expected to be tight, Erdogan has fielded one of his loyalists, former prime minister Binali Yildirim.

But in Ankara, Mansur Yavas — the candidate for both the opposition Republican People's Party or CHP and the nationalist Good Party — might have a stronger chance of winning, according to a number of recent polls.

With inflation at just under 20 percent and unemployment at a near 10-year high in December, Erdogan has sought to reassure voters about the economy.

"I am the boss of the economy right now as the president of this country," Erdogan told a rally on Saturday.

Turkey's finance minister, Berat Albayrak, who is Erdogan's son-in-law, said economic reforms would be announced the week of April 8.

Turkey voted in local elections on Sunday in a test for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with his ruling party fighting to keep hold of the country's two key cities as an economic slowdown takes hold.

Turkey voted in local elections on Sunday in a test for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with his ruling party fighting to keep hold of the country's two key cities as an economic slowdown takes hold. Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) have won every vote since the party first came to power in 2002 but this time, analysts say, the party risks losing Turkey's capital Ankara and even its economic hub Istanbul. Sunday's poll was the first municipal ballot since Turks approved constitutional reforms in 2017 to create an executive presidency that gave Erdogan wider powers after a decade and a half in office. But Erdogan, whose ability to win continuously at the ballot box is unparalleled in Turkish history, appears more vulnerable with the country's economy in recession, unemployment up and inflation in double digits. Voting closed at 1400 GMT in Sunday's ballot, which was held mostly without incident, with the exception of the deaths of two men killed in a fight at a polling station in the east of Turkey. Much of the AKP's success has been down to his perceived economic prowess, but days before the vote, the Turkish lira was sliding again, provoking memories of the 2018 currency crisis that badly hurt Turkish households. Erdogan, who began his own political career as Istanbul mayor, personally campaigned hard across Turkey, often with several rallies a day, even though he is not on the ballot. Looking to galvanize his base among conservative Turks, the president cast the election as a matter of survival, attacking opposition candidates by branding them as linked to PKK Kurdish militants. "The economy is terrible," said Husnu Acar, 53, after voting in a school in Beylikduzu on the outskirts of Istanbul. "They are the ones with a survival problem," he said of the AKP. Voters are to elect scores of mayors, municipal councils and other local officials. Preliminary results are expected soon after polls close with official results released early in the week. Two members of Saadet (Felicity), a religiously conservative party, were killed after an attack by an AKP candidate's nephew in a polling station in Malatya, eastern Turkey, Saadet chairman Temel Karamollaoglu said on Twitter. The two men, one of whom was also an election observer, died after a fight between two groups in Puturge district, private DHA news agency reported. The Malatya governorate said four individuals were detained. Erdogan said the incident was "upsetting" after he voted in Istanbul, and he called Karamollaoglu shortly afterwards to offer his condolences, the presidency said. Charges of an unfair vote For his supporters, Erdogan remains the strong leader they believe Turkey needs and they tout the country's economic development over the 16 years he and the AKP have been in power. But rights activists and even Turkey's Western allies say that under his leadership, democracy has been eroded, particularly after a failed 2016 coup that led to tens of thousands of people being arrested. "The economy isn't doing so good for sure, but I have confidence in our president and things will be better after the election," said Koksal Karacan, a retiree voting in Istanbul's Kasimpasa, where Erdogan grew up. The vote will be the first time since 2002 that the AKP is fielding candidates with its alliance partner, the rightwing Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The opposition pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has refused to field candidates in several cities, saying the elections are unfair. Some of its leaders have been jailed on terror charges, accusations they reject. The HDP criticised the detentions of candidates and its members in the run-up to the vote in a statement on Sunday, accusing the government of trying "to paralyse the HDP organisationally, and render the playing field even more uneven". Observers say that with most media either pro-government or controlled by the president's supporters, opposition parties campaigned at a disadvantage because Erdogan's daily rallies dominated TV coverage. "What has happened during the campaign for Sunday's local elections is unprecedented and demonstrates that — unlike during its first years in power — the AKP is no longer confident of being able to win a fair election," said Gareth Jenkins, a non-resident senior research fellow at the Silk Road Studies Programme. 'Boss of the economy' In Istanbul, where the race is expected to be tight, Erdogan has fielded one of his loyalists, former prime minister Binali Yildirim. But in Ankara, Mansur Yavas — the candidate for both the opposition Republican People's Party or CHP and the nationalist Good Party — might have a stronger chance of winning, according to a number of recent polls. With inflation at just under 20 percent and unemployment at a near 10-year high in December, Erdogan has sought to reassure voters about the economy. "I am the boss of the economy right now as the president of this country," Erdogan told a rally on Saturday. Turkey's finance minister, Berat Albayrak, who is Erdogan's son-in-law, said economic reforms would be announced the week of April 8.

Turks vote in test for Erdogan as recession hits home

Two German journalists on Sunday left Turkey after Ankara refused to renew their accreditation, a move condemned by Berlin as "unacceptable".

Jorg Brase, Istanbul bureau chief for ZDF public television, and Thomas Seibert, who writes for the newspaper Tagesspiegel, had their applications for press cards rejected by the Turkish government for reasons both men said remained unknown.

The two journalists had to leave Turkey within 10 days of their rejection.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Saturday said on Twitter it was "unacceptable" that German correspondents could not do "their job freely" in Turkey.

He told Tagesspiegel it was "incompatible with our understanding of press freedom".

At a news conference in Istanbul before the two men left Turkey, Brase and Seibert accused the Turkish government of trying to "silence" international media.

"The Turkish government managed to more or less silence national media, and now they are now trying to do it with international media," Brase said.

"What we will definitely do is ... keep on reporting on Turkish issues but we will do it from outside Turkey, unfortunately."

Seibert said he had been accredited in Turkey as a correspondent since 1997.

Brase claimed the Turkish press attache in Berlin made an offer to ZDF and Tagesspiegel, suggesting they send different correspondents. But the offer was rejected, Brase added.

Brase said he was considering moving to Tehran since the Iranian government had given him the necessary paperwork to live there. He had been working in Turkey since January 2018.

The two men were due to leave Turkey on separate flights from Istanbul.

Relations between Berlin and Ankara had been strained following the failed 2016 coup and the arrest by Turkish authorities of tens of thousands of people including Germans.

But after the release of German citizens including German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel and journalist Mesale Tolu, ties improved.

It is believed around 40 foreign journalists in Turkey including German reporters are still waiting for accreditation.

German public broadcaster NDR correspondent Halil Gulbeyaz said this month his application for accreditation had also been rejected.

The German foreign ministry updated its travel advisory for Turkey on Saturday to say there was a risk that the Turkish government could "take further measures against representatives of the German media or civil society institutions".

Two German journalists on Sunday left Turkey after Ankara refused to renew their accreditation, a move condemned by Berlin as "unacceptable". Jorg Brase, Istanbul bureau chief for ZDF public television, and Thomas Seibert, who writes for the newspaper Tagesspiegel, had their applications for press cards rejected by the Turkish government for reasons both men said remained unknown.

Two German journalists on Sunday left Turkey after Ankara refused to renew their accreditation, a move condemned by Berlin as "unacceptable". Jorg Brase, Istanbul bureau chief for ZDF public television, and Thomas Seibert, who writes for the newspaper Tagesspiegel, had their applications for press cards rejected by the Turkish government for reasons both men said remained unknown. The two journalists had to leave Turkey within 10 days of their rejection. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Saturday said on Twitter it was "unacceptable" that German correspondents could not do "their job freely" in Turkey. He told Tagesspiegel it was "incompatible with our understanding of press freedom". At a news conference in Istanbul before the two men left Turkey, Brase and Seibert accused the Turkish government of trying to "silence" international media. "The Turkish government managed to more or less silence national media, and now they are now trying to do it with international media," Brase said. "What we will definitely do is ... keep on reporting on Turkish issues but we will do it from outside Turkey, unfortunately." Seibert said he had been accredited in Turkey as a correspondent since 1997. Brase claimed the Turkish press attache in Berlin made an offer to ZDF and Tagesspiegel, suggesting they send different correspondents. But the offer was rejected, Brase added. Brase said he was considering moving to Tehran since the Iranian government had given him the necessary paperwork to live there. He had been working in Turkey since January 2018. The two men were due to leave Turkey on separate flights from Istanbul. Relations between Berlin and Ankara had been strained following the failed 2016 coup and the arrest by Turkish authorities of tens of thousands of people including Germans. But after the release of German citizens including German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel and journalist Mesale Tolu, ties improved. It is believed around 40 foreign journalists in Turkey including German reporters are still waiting for accreditation. German public broadcaster NDR correspondent Halil Gulbeyaz said this month his application for accreditation had also been rejected. The German foreign ministry updated its travel advisory for Turkey on Saturday to say there was a risk that the Turkish government could "take further measures against representatives of the German media or civil society institutions".

Two German journalists forced to leave Turkey after accreditation row

Turkish police on Tuesday launched raids to detain over 300 people, including military personnel, suspected of ties to a group blamed for a 2016 coup bid, state media reported.

Prosecutors in Turkey's three biggest provinces -- Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir -- issued arrest warrants for 324 people as part of different probes into followers of US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, the private DHA and the Anadolu state news agency said.

Turkey accuses Gulen of ordering the abortive bid to topple President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on July 15, 2016, but he strongly denies the claim.

The Istanbul public prosecutor sought the arrest of 53 active duty soldiers in 15 provinces, including in the metropolis, Anadolu reported.

In the Aegean province of Izmir, the public prosecutor issued 182 arrest warrants with police conducting raids across 42 provinces, including Izmir, DHA reported.

The capital's public prosecutor said it issued 89 arrest warrants in two separate probes including one looking at the gendarmerie, which is in charge of domestic security.

The Ankara prosecutor's office said 30 suspects had already been detained.

The operations against alleged members of Gulen's movement have increased in recent months.&nbsp;

More than 760 people were detained last week in operations across 76 provinces of Turkey's 81 provinces, although 122 suspects were later freed under judicial supervision.

Sixteen other suspects were released, according to the Ankara public prosecutor's office.

Tens of thousands of people have been arrested over suspected links to Gulen since 2016.

Meanwhile, more than 100,000 people have been sacked or suspended from the public sector.

Despite criticism from Western allies and human rights defenders over the scale of the crackdown, the police operations and probes continue with rigour.

Turkish officials insist that the raids are necessary to remove the "virus" caused by the Gulen movement's infiltration of Turkish state bodies.

Turkish police on Tuesday launched raids to detain over 300 people, including military personnel, suspected of ties to a group blamed for a 2016 coup bid, state media reported.

Turkish police on Tuesday launched raids to detain over 300 people, including military personnel, suspected of ties to a group blamed for a 2016 coup bid, state media reported. Prosecutors in Turkey's three biggest provinces -- Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir -- issued arrest warrants for 324 people as part of different probes into followers of US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, the private DHA and the Anadolu state news agency said. Turkey accuses Gulen of ordering the abortive bid to topple President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on July 15, 2016, but he strongly denies the claim. The Istanbul public prosecutor sought the arrest of 53 active duty soldiers in 15 provinces, including in the metropolis, Anadolu reported. In the Aegean province of Izmir, the public prosecutor issued 182 arrest warrants with police conducting raids across 42 provinces, including Izmir, DHA reported. The capital's public prosecutor said it issued 89 arrest warrants in two separate probes including one looking at the gendarmerie, which is in charge of domestic security. The Ankara prosecutor's office said 30 suspects had already been detained. The operations against alleged members of Gulen's movement have increased in recent months. More than 760 people were detained last week in operations across 76 provinces of Turkey's 81 provinces, although 122 suspects were later freed under judicial supervision. Sixteen other suspects were released, according to the Ankara public prosecutor's office. Tens of thousands of people have been arrested over suspected links to Gulen since 2016. Meanwhile, more than 100,000 people have been sacked or suspended from the public sector. Despite criticism from Western allies and human rights defenders over the scale of the crackdown, the police operations and probes continue with rigour. Turkish officials insist that the raids are necessary to remove the "virus" caused by the Gulen movement's infiltration of Turkish state bodies.

Turkey seeks to detain over 300 for alleged Gulen ties

Riyadh does not know the location of dissident <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/new-pressure-over-khashoggi-death-trump-ignores-deadline-196134">Jamal Khashoggi's body</a>, despite having detained the Saudi team that murdered him, a high-ranking foreign affairs official in the kingdom said in an interview broadcast Sunday.

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/khashoggi-killing-an-insight-into-saudi-strategic-thinking-196178">dissident journalist was dismembered</a> after his murder October 2 in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul but his remains have yet to be found.

Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs, said the murder was carried out by Saudi officials "acting outside their scope of authority" and that 11 people have been charged with the crime.

But asked where <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/khashoggi-killing-an-insight-into-saudi-strategic-thinking-196178">Khashoggi's body</a> is, he told CBS's "Face the Nation," "We don't know."

Jubeir said the public prosecutor responsible for the case had sought evidence from Turkey but had received no response.

Questioned why those in custody couldn't tell them where the body was, Jubeir responded: "We are still investigating."

"We have now a number of possibilities and we're asking them what they did with the body, and I think this investigation is ongoing, and I would expect that eventually we will find the truth," he said.

Jubeir was interviewed Friday, the same day President Donald Trump ignored a congressional deadline for reporting on who assassinated Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post who had been openly critical of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The CIA has concluded the Saudi operation was likely directed by the powerful crown prince, but the White House has sidestepped that finding amid strenuous denials by Riyadh, a key US ally.

On Friday, The New York Times said the CIA had intercepted communications of the crown prince telling a top aide in 2017 that he would go after Khashoggi "with a bullet" if the journalist did not return to Saudi Arabia.

"I'm not going to comment on reports based on anonymous sources," Jubeir said.&nbsp;

"The crown prince, we know, did not order this. This was not a government-sanctioned operation."

Riyadh does not know the location of dissident Jamal Khashoggi's body, despite having detained the Saudi team that murdered him, a high-ranking foreign affairs official in the kingdom said in an interview broadcast Sunday.

Riyadh does not know the location of dissident Jamal Khashoggi's body, despite having detained the Saudi team that murdered him, a high-ranking foreign affairs official in the kingdom said in an interview broadcast Sunday. The dissident journalist was dismembered after his murder October 2 in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul but his remains have yet to be found. Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs, said the murder was carried out by Saudi officials "acting outside their scope of authority" and that 11 people have been charged with the crime. But asked where Khashoggi's body is, he told CBS's "Face the Nation," "We don't know." Jubeir said the public prosecutor responsible for the case had sought evidence from Turkey but had received no response. Questioned why those in custody couldn't tell them where the body was, Jubeir responded: "We are still investigating." "We have now a number of possibilities and we're asking them what they did with the body, and I think this investigation is ongoing, and I would expect that eventually we will find the truth," he said. Jubeir was interviewed Friday, the same day President Donald Trump ignored a congressional deadline for reporting on who assassinated Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post who had been openly critical of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The CIA has concluded the Saudi operation was likely directed by the powerful crown prince, but the White House has sidestepped that finding amid strenuous denials by Riyadh, a key US ally. On Friday, The New York Times said the CIA had intercepted communications of the crown prince telling a top aide in 2017 that he would go after Khashoggi "with a bullet" if the journalist did not return to Saudi Arabia. "I'm not going to comment on reports based on anonymous sources," Jubeir said. "The crown prince, we know, did not order this. This was not a government-sanctioned operation."

We don't know about Khashoggi's body: Saudi foreign office

Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker Sean Penn has reportedly started working on a documentary about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this year which led worldwide protests.&nbsp; 
 
Penn, along with a crew of 10 people, was spotted shooting in front of the Suadi consulate building in Istanbul on Wednesday, Turkish media reported. Penn later also was seen outside the consul general's residence nearby.&nbsp; 
 
Khashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post and a US resident since 2017, was killed during his visit to the consulate to obtain marriage-related paperwork on October 2. 
Despite massive searches, the whereabouts of his searches are still unknown.&nbsp; 
 
In an image circulated by a Turkish daily, Penn can be seen outside the mission where the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/khashoggi-fiancee-riyadh-responsible-for-his-murder-must-explain-174373">Saudi writer was strangled.</a> He was later cut up into pieces by a 15-man Saudi team especially sent to Istanbul for the task. 
 
Khashoggi was a vocal critic of the Saudi government and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his murder led to a massive international outcry and forced many countries to reassess their ties with the kingdom. 
 
While initially, the Saudi government denied any involvement with his disappearance, Riyadh eventually admitted last month that Saudi officials had planned and executed the killing, blaming a "rogue" team.&nbsp; 
 
The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/khashoggi-murder-cia-says-that-arab-crown-prince-ordered-the-killing-181584">CIA has reportedly assessed that Prince Mohammed,</a> also known as MBS, ordered the killing of Khashoggi.

21 people, including security officers, have been arrested in Saudi Arabia in connection with the killing.

Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker Sean Penn has reportedly started working on a documentary about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this year which led worldwide protests.

Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker Sean Penn has reportedly started working on a documentary about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this year which led worldwide protests. Penn, along with a crew of 10 people, was spotted shooting in front of the Suadi consulate building in Istanbul on Wednesday, Turkish media reported. Penn later also was seen outside the consul general's residence nearby. Khashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post and a US resident since 2017, was killed during his visit to the consulate to obtain marriage-related paperwork on October 2. Despite massive searches, the whereabouts of his searches are still unknown. In an image circulated by a Turkish daily, Penn can be seen outside the mission where the Saudi writer was strangled. He was later cut up into pieces by a 15-man Saudi team especially sent to Istanbul for the task. Khashoggi was a vocal critic of the Saudi government and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his murder led to a massive international outcry and forced many countries to reassess their ties with the kingdom. While initially, the Saudi government denied any involvement with his disappearance, Riyadh eventually admitted last month that Saudi officials had planned and executed the killing, blaming a "rogue" team. The CIA has reportedly assessed that Prince Mohammed, also known as MBS, ordered the killing of Khashoggi. 21 people, including security officers, have been arrested in Saudi Arabia in connection with the killing.

Sean Penn making a film on Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder?

Turkish police on Monday were searching two villas in a northwestern province for the remains of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, state media reported.

The officers began searching a two-storey building in Termal district in Yalova with the help of sniffer dogs and drones on Monday morning, and the investigation later widened to the adjacent villa, state news agency Anadolu said.

Crime scene investigators were inspecting a well in the garden of the first villa in Samanli village, Anadolu reported, while images showed fire trucks at the scene.

Khashoggi, a contributor for The Washington Post, was killed by Saudi officials on October 2 during a visit to the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul for paperwork before his wedding.

His body has not been found and his death has triggered widespread international criticism of Riyadh. There have been reports in pro-government media that his remains could have been dissolved in acid.

The searches on Monday comes over two weeks after Sabah daily had reported that samples taken from the consulate drains showed traces of acid.

Turkish authorities say a team of 15 Saudi officials were sent especially to kill Khashoggi, 59, but Riyadh insists the team conducted a rogue operation.

Anadolu said some of the suspects had spoken to an unnamed Saudi citizen on the phone.

After learning this, authorities initiated the search of the Saudi businessman's villas, Anadolu added, but he was not in Turkey during the phone calls with the suspects.

Yalova governor Muammer Erol told Anadolu in a written statement that the Istanbul public prosecutor in charge of the murder investigation would provide the "necessary information" about the results of the search later.

There have been previous inspections of the Saudi consulate and the consul general's residence in Istanbul as well as a forest in the city.

Turkish police on Monday were searching two villas in a northwestern province for the remains of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, state media reported.

Turkish police on Monday were searching two villas in a northwestern province for the remains of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, state media reported. The officers began searching a two-storey building in Termal district in Yalova with the help of sniffer dogs and drones on Monday morning, and the investigation later widened to the adjacent villa, state news agency Anadolu said. Crime scene investigators were inspecting a well in the garden of the first villa in Samanli village, Anadolu reported, while images showed fire trucks at the scene. Khashoggi, a contributor for The Washington Post, was killed by Saudi officials on October 2 during a visit to the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul for paperwork before his wedding. His body has not been found and his death has triggered widespread international criticism of Riyadh. There have been reports in pro-government media that his remains could have been dissolved in acid. The searches on Monday comes over two weeks after Sabah daily had reported that samples taken from the consulate drains showed traces of acid. Turkish authorities say a team of 15 Saudi officials were sent especially to kill Khashoggi, 59, but Riyadh insists the team conducted a rogue operation. Anadolu said some of the suspects had spoken to an unnamed Saudi citizen on the phone. After learning this, authorities initiated the search of the Saudi businessman's villas, Anadolu added, but he was not in Turkey during the phone calls with the suspects. Yalova governor Muammer Erol told Anadolu in a written statement that the Istanbul public prosecutor in charge of the murder investigation would provide the "necessary information" about the results of the search later. There have been previous inspections of the Saudi consulate and the consul general's residence in Istanbul as well as a forest in the city.

Police search villas in northwest Turkey for 'Khashoggi remains'

Four Turkish soldiers were killed and another was wounded on Monday after a military helicopter crashed in a central district of Istanbul, the governor of Istanbul was quoted as saying.

The helicopter was carrying out training flights at the Samandira air base in Istanbul and the reason for its crash has not yet been determined, the state-owned Anadolu news agency cited governor Ali Yerlikaya as saying.

Footage showed the helicopter had crashed in the middle of a residential area in the Sancaktepe district of Istanbul, on the Asian side of the city.

Debris from the crash had scattered across the street, the footage showed. Medical and emergency teams were dispatched to the area, Anadolu said. It said Defence Minister Hulusi Akar would go to the crash site to hold inspections.

Four Turkish soldiers were killed and another was wounded on Monday after a military helicopter crashed in a central district of Istanbul, the governor of Istanbul was quoted as saying.

Four Turkish soldiers were killed and another was wounded on Monday after a military helicopter crashed in a central district of Istanbul, the governor of Istanbul was quoted as saying. The helicopter was carrying out training flights at the Samandira air base in Istanbul and the reason for its crash has not yet been determined, the state-owned Anadolu news agency cited governor Ali Yerlikaya as saying. Footage showed the helicopter had crashed in the middle of a residential area in the Sancaktepe district of Istanbul, on the Asian side of the city. Debris from the crash had scattered across the street, the footage showed. Medical and emergency teams were dispatched to the area, Anadolu said. It said Defence Minister Hulusi Akar would go to the crash site to hold inspections.

Video: Four Turkish soldiers killed as helicopter crashes in central district of Istanbul

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was on Monday due to inaugurate Istanbul's new international airport, which his government claims will become the world's largest.

The airport, one of a number of&nbsp;mega-projects under Erdogan's rule, was initially scheduled to fully open on Monday but construction has been marred by delays and a workers' strike over poor conditions.

Erdogan has championed the 10.5 billion euro ($12 billion) project in his bid to make Istanbul a global travel hub linking Europe, Asia and Africa and turn flag carrier Turkish Airlines into an aviation giant.

However the airport will only offer flights to five destinations until an expanded opening on December 29, from when it is expected to handle up to 90 million passengers a year, rising to 200 million when all facilities are completed in 2028.

That would be nearly double the number of passengers moving through the world's current busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson in the US city of Atlanta.

The first flight from the as-yet unnamed airport will be to Ankara on Thursday.

Erdogan is expected to reveal the airport's new name at a lavish ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:00 pm (1300 GMT) on Monday attended by foreign leaders Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

The inauguration for the new facility, which will replace Istanbul's ageing Ataturk Airport, takes place on the 95th anniversary of modern Turkey's founding by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

However the president, who has been accused by secularists of undermining Ataturk's legacy, has indicated he would prefer not to have the new airport named after the founder.

Many observers predict Erdogan, who often references the Ottoman Empire, will instead name it after an Ottoman-era sultan such as Abdulhamid II. Some supporters have even argued it should carry Erdogan's name.&nbsp;

The two-month period after Monday's "soft opening" will be used to identify "where we need to work a bit more", Kadri Samsunlu, director general of the Istanbul Grand Airport (IGA), told foreign media visiting the site on Thursday.

The "entire business" at Ataturk -- including planes and equipment -- will be moved to the new airport over a 45-hour period after the "hard opening" at the end of the year, Samsunlu added.&nbsp;

Authorities say a metro line will be built to link the airport, which is near the Black Sea coast on the European side of Istanbul, to the city centre 35 kilometres (22 miles) away.

Crackdown on striking workers&nbsp;

Before its glitzy launch, the airport looked more like a construction site on Thursday, with dump trucks roaring past, a road being paved and workers quickly dismantling scaffolding.

When completed in 2028, it will have six runways and two terminals spread over 76 square kilometres (29 square miles), the IGA said. That would make it three times the size of Ataturk.

Turkish Airlines will take advantage of the extra space by expanding its commercial and cargo operations, a source at the company told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"Next year we will add 40 airplanes to our fleet. By 2023 we will have 450 planes and transport more then 120 million passengers a year," the source said.

The 35,000 people employed on the project have had to scramble to complete it on time.

Last month, hundreds of workers walked off the job to protest poor conditions and work-related deaths on the site.

Turkish authorities quickly cracked down, arresting hundreds, according to labour unions.

Most were released without charge, but around 20 remain in prison.

Thirty workers have died on the site since construction began in 2015, according to the IGA. The unions say the real number is much higher.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was on Monday due to inaugurate Istanbul's new international airport, which his government claims will become the world's largest.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was on Monday due to inaugurate Istanbul's new international airport, which his government claims will become the world's largest. The airport, one of a number of mega-projects under Erdogan's rule, was initially scheduled to fully open on Monday but construction has been marred by delays and a workers' strike over poor conditions. Erdogan has championed the 10.5 billion euro ($12 billion) project in his bid to make Istanbul a global travel hub linking Europe, Asia and Africa and turn flag carrier Turkish Airlines into an aviation giant. However the airport will only offer flights to five destinations until an expanded opening on December 29, from when it is expected to handle up to 90 million passengers a year, rising to 200 million when all facilities are completed in 2028. That would be nearly double the number of passengers moving through the world's current busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson in the US city of Atlanta. The first flight from the as-yet unnamed airport will be to Ankara on Thursday. Erdogan is expected to reveal the airport's new name at a lavish ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:00 pm (1300 GMT) on Monday attended by foreign leaders Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. The inauguration for the new facility, which will replace Istanbul's ageing Ataturk Airport, takes place on the 95th anniversary of modern Turkey's founding by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. However the president, who has been accused by secularists of undermining Ataturk's legacy, has indicated he would prefer not to have the new airport named after the founder. Many observers predict Erdogan, who often references the Ottoman Empire, will instead name it after an Ottoman-era sultan such as Abdulhamid II. Some supporters have even argued it should carry Erdogan's name. The two-month period after Monday's "soft opening" will be used to identify "where we need to work a bit more", Kadri Samsunlu, director general of the Istanbul Grand Airport (IGA), told foreign media visiting the site on Thursday. The "entire business" at Ataturk -- including planes and equipment -- will be moved to the new airport over a 45-hour period after the "hard opening" at the end of the year, Samsunlu added. Authorities say a metro line will be built to link the airport, which is near the Black Sea coast on the European side of Istanbul, to the city centre 35 kilometres (22 miles) away. Crackdown on striking workers Before its glitzy launch, the airport looked more like a construction site on Thursday, with dump trucks roaring past, a road being paved and workers quickly dismantling scaffolding. When completed in 2028, it will have six runways and two terminals spread over 76 square kilometres (29 square miles), the IGA said. That would make it three times the size of Ataturk. Turkish Airlines will take advantage of the extra space by expanding its commercial and cargo operations, a source at the company told AFP on condition of anonymity. "Next year we will add 40 airplanes to our fleet. By 2023 we will have 450 planes and transport more then 120 million passengers a year," the source said. The 35,000 people employed on the project have had to scramble to complete it on time. Last month, hundreds of workers walked off the job to protest poor conditions and work-related deaths on the site. Turkish authorities quickly cracked down, arresting hundreds, according to labour unions. Most were released without charge, but around 20 remain in prison. Thirty workers have died on the site since construction began in 2015, according to the IGA. The unions say the real number is much higher.

Turkey to unveil giant new Istanbul airport

Saudi Arabia will prosecute the suspects in the killing of journalist <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/khashoggi-was-dead-in-twenty-minutes-says-tura-khislakchi-as-he-unfolds-the-incident-to-wion-173771">Jamal Khashoggi</a>, Riyadh's foreign minister said Saturday in response to a call by Turkey for their extradition.&nbsp;

"On the issue of extradition, the individuals are Saudi nationals. They're detained in Saudi Arabia, and the investigation is in Saudi Arabia, and they will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia," Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said at a regional defence forum in the Bahraini capital.

Jubeir's comments come the day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for the extradition of 18 Saudi nationals authorities say were involved in the murder of Khashoggi, a Saudi government critic killed in his country's consulate in Istanbul this month.&nbsp;

After denying knowledge of Khashoggi's whereabouts for nearly three weeks, Riyadh admitted Khashoggi's murder had been "premeditated" but denied the involvement of the kingdom's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.&nbsp;

"We will overcome it," Jubeir told the defence forum.&nbsp;

"The issue, as I said, is being investigated. We will know the truth. We will hold those responsible accountable. And we will put in place mechanisms to ensure it doesn't happen again."

Once an insider in Saudi royal circles, Khashoggi fell out of favour with the monarchy after Mohammed bin Salman was named heir to the throne last year.&nbsp;

The columnist went into self-imposed exile in the United States, where he wrote a column for The Washington Post, which was often critical of the crown prince.&nbsp;

Khashoggi was least seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to complete paperwork for his wedding to his Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz.

She has demanded punishment of everyone involved in his murder "from the highest to the lowest levels."

Saudi Arabia will prosecute the suspects in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Riyadh's foreign minister said Saturday in response to a call by Turkey for their extradition.

Saudi Arabia will prosecute the suspects in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Riyadh's foreign minister said Saturday in response to a call by Turkey for their extradition. "On the issue of extradition, the individuals are Saudi nationals. They're detained in Saudi Arabia, and the investigation is in Saudi Arabia, and they will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia," Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said at a regional defence forum in the Bahraini capital. Jubeir's comments come the day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for the extradition of 18 Saudi nationals authorities say were involved in the murder of Khashoggi, a Saudi government critic killed in his country's consulate in Istanbul this month. After denying knowledge of Khashoggi's whereabouts for nearly three weeks, Riyadh admitted Khashoggi's murder had been "premeditated" but denied the involvement of the kingdom's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. "We will overcome it," Jubeir told the defence forum. "The issue, as I said, is being investigated. We will know the truth. We will hold those responsible accountable. And we will put in place mechanisms to ensure it doesn't happen again." Once an insider in Saudi royal circles, Khashoggi fell out of favour with the monarchy after Mohammed bin Salman was named heir to the throne last year. The columnist went into self-imposed exile in the United States, where he wrote a column for The Washington Post, which was often critical of the crown prince. Khashoggi was least seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to complete paperwork for his wedding to his Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz. She has demanded punishment of everyone involved in his murder "from the highest to the lowest levels."

Khashoggi's killers 'will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia': Saudi FM

Turkey continues to probe the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/amid-scepticism-saudi-official-provides-yet-another-version-of-khashoggi-death-172620">murder of Saudi journalist</a> Jamal Khashoggi who was reportedly killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

WION has learned from Turkish <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/we-do-not-know-where-jamal-khashoggis-body-is-saudi-arabia-172683">sources that Saudi Arabia has&nbsp;</a>reportedly given permission to authorities to investigate the well inside Saudi consulate for clues related to Khashoggi's disappearance.

Last week Saudi Arabia had conceded that Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate leading to worldwide condemnation.

Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Salman speaking at the investor's summit at Riyadh said the death of Khashoggi will not harm relations with Turkey even as President Erdogan in a televised address demanded answers from the Saudi government over the sudden disappearance and the subsequent&nbsp;murder of the US resident.

Prince Salman vowed to bring Khashoggi's killers to justice.

"We will prove to the world that the two governments (Saudi and Turkish) are cooperating to punish any criminal, any culprit and at the end justice will prevail," Prince Mohammed had said.

Despite Prince Salman's insistence, the West including President Trump has openly pointed fingers at the Saudi regime.

On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron told King Salman in a phone call that his country in coordination with partners&nbsp;could take action against those held responsible for the murder.

Britain had said earlier that Saudi Arabia's explanations lacked credibility as Prime Minister Theresa May spoke to Prince Salman.

"The incident that happened is very painful, for all Saudis... the incident is not justifiable," the Crown Prince said while asserting that &nbsp;Saudi Arabia and Turkey would work together "to reach results" on a joint investigation while describing the cooperation as "special" even as President Erdogan hit out against the Saudi regime in a televised address beamed live around the world.

President Trump said he wanted to believe Prince Mohammed when he said lower level officials were to blame for Khashoggi's death&nbsp;but added that "the prince is running things over there more so at this stage, he's running things and so if anybody were going to be, it would be him."

Turkey continues to probe the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was reportedly killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. WION has learned from Turkish sources that Saudi Arabia has reportedly given permission to authorities to investigate the well inside Saudi consulate for clues related to Khashoggi's disappearance.

Turkey continues to probe the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was reportedly killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. WION has learned from Turkish sources that Saudi Arabia has reportedly given permission to authorities to investigate the well inside Saudi consulate for clues related to Khashoggi's disappearance. Last week Saudi Arabia had conceded that Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate leading to worldwide condemnation. Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Salman speaking at the investor's summit at Riyadh said the death of Khashoggi will not harm relations with Turkey even as President Erdogan in a televised address demanded answers from the Saudi government over the sudden disappearance and the subsequent murder of the US resident. Prince Salman vowed to bring Khashoggi's killers to justice. "We will prove to the world that the two governments (Saudi and Turkish) are cooperating to punish any criminal, any culprit and at the end justice will prevail," Prince Mohammed had said. Despite Prince Salman's insistence, the West including President Trump has openly pointed fingers at the Saudi regime. On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron told King Salman in a phone call that his country in coordination with partners could take action against those held responsible for the murder. Britain had said earlier that Saudi Arabia's explanations lacked credibility as Prime Minister Theresa May spoke to Prince Salman. "The incident that happened is very painful, for all Saudis... the incident is not justifiable," the Crown Prince said while asserting that Saudi Arabia and Turkey would work together "to reach results" on a joint investigation while describing the cooperation as "special" even as President Erdogan hit out against the Saudi regime in a televised address beamed live around the world. President Trump said he wanted to believe Prince Mohammed when he said lower level officials were to blame for Khashoggi's death but added that "the prince is running things over there more so at this stage, he's running things and so if anybody were going to be, it would be him."

Khashoggi killing: Turkey reportedly gets permission to inspect well inside Saudi consulate

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday hosted the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/west-asia/journalist-khashoggis-murder-us-official-meets-saudi-crown-prince-despite-global-backlash-172896">"Future Investment Initiative" popularly</a> known as "Davos in the Desert" even as the controversy over journalist Jamal Khashoggi's killing continued to hit global headlines.

Several high profiles corporate head honchos JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon, Ford executive chairman Bill Ford including International Monetary Fund chief(IMF) chief Christine Lagarde and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had pulled out earlier.

Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser was the latest big name to quit the summit even as top ministers from Britain, France and Germany decided to stay away in a big blow to Prince Salman's initiative to showcase Saudi Arabia as an investment destination.

However, Pakistan PM Imran Khan decided to attend the marquee event despite high profile pullouts in order to look for funds to salvage the country's deteriorating balance of payment crisis.

"PM Imran signifies our solidarity with the kingdom in its efforts to become an emerging hub of international business and investment,” the foreign ministry said in the statement.

“The conference provides an opportunity to interact with important business leaders who are interested in investing in Pakistan," the statement added.

Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin who decided to stay away from the high profile conference faced a global backlash after he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a close door meeting.

President Trump ha said earlier on that he was "not satisfied" with Saudi Arabia's explanation on how Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.&nbsp;

Turkey had declared on Monday that Jamal Khashoggi's death was &nbsp;"savagely planned" as it promised to reveal the "naked truth" related to his murder.

"This was extremely savagely planned, and we are faced with a situation where there has been a lot of effort to whitewash this," Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesman Omer Celik said.

"This is a very complicated murder," Celik added.

Turkish government officials have said a team of 15 Saudis were sent to Istanbul to kill Khashoggi who was a vocal critic of the Saudi regime and regular opinion writer for the Washington Post.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday hosted the "Future Investment Initiative" popularly known as "Davos in the Desert" even as the controversy over journalist Jamal Khashoggi's killing continued to hit global headlines.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday hosted the "Future Investment Initiative" popularly known as "Davos in the Desert" even as the controversy over journalist Jamal Khashoggi's killing continued to hit global headlines. Several high profiles corporate head honchos JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon, Ford executive chairman Bill Ford including International Monetary Fund chief(IMF) chief Christine Lagarde and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had pulled out earlier. Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser was the latest big name to quit the summit even as top ministers from Britain, France and Germany decided to stay away in a big blow to Prince Salman's initiative to showcase Saudi Arabia as an investment destination. However, Pakistan PM Imran Khan decided to attend the marquee event despite high profile pullouts in order to look for funds to salvage the country's deteriorating balance of payment crisis. "PM Imran signifies our solidarity with the kingdom in its efforts to become an emerging hub of international business and investment,” the foreign ministry said in the statement. “The conference provides an opportunity to interact with important business leaders who are interested in investing in Pakistan," the statement added. Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin who decided to stay away from the high profile conference faced a global backlash after he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a close door meeting. President Trump ha said earlier on that he was "not satisfied" with Saudi Arabia's explanation on how Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkey had declared on Monday that Jamal Khashoggi's death was "savagely planned" as it promised to reveal the "naked truth" related to his murder. "This was extremely savagely planned, and we are faced with a situation where there has been a lot of effort to whitewash this," Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesman Omer Celik said. "This is a very complicated murder," Celik added. Turkish government officials have said a team of 15 Saudis were sent to Istanbul to kill Khashoggi who was a vocal critic of the Saudi regime and regular opinion writer for the Washington Post.

Saudi Arabia hosts international investment summit despite Khashoggi killing backlash

French, German, Turkish and Russian leaders are set to meet in Istanbul on October 27 to discuss the ongoing Syrian crisis and figure out ways to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in the country's Idlib region, the French presidency said on Friday.

A statement issued by French President Emmanuel Macron's office stated France's commitment toward ensuring that the ceasefire in Idlib remains in place.&nbsp;

The statement also noted that France wants to prevent a new exodus of refugees and provide new momentum for peace talks.

Meanwhile, according to Russian media, President Vladimir Putin, next week, will discuss conditions for the return of refugees to Syria at the summit.&nbsp;

Besides this, the Russian President may also discuss the reconstruction of infrastructure in Syria, news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;

Leaders from Turkey, Russia, Germany and France will take part in a four-way summit next week which aims to have the Syrian crisis at the heart of the discussions.

The latest developments in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province and the political process for the resolution of the conflict would be discussed at the summit.

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

French, German, Turkish and Russian leaders are set to meet in Istanbul on October 27 to discuss the ongoing Syrian crisis and figure out ways to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in the country's Idlib region, the French presidency said on Friday.

French, German, Turkish and Russian leaders are set to meet in Istanbul on October 27 to discuss the ongoing Syrian crisis and figure out ways to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in the country's Idlib region, the French presidency said on Friday. A statement issued by French President Emmanuel Macron's office stated France's commitment toward ensuring that the ceasefire in Idlib remains in place. The statement also noted that France wants to prevent a new exodus of refugees and provide new momentum for peace talks. Meanwhile, according to Russian media, President Vladimir Putin, next week, will discuss conditions for the return of refugees to Syria at the summit. Besides this, the Russian President may also discuss the reconstruction of infrastructure in Syria, news agency Reuters reported. Leaders from Turkey, Russia, Germany and France will take part in a four-way summit next week which aims to have the Syrian crisis at the heart of the discussions. The latest developments in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province and the political process for the resolution of the conflict would be discussed at the summit. (With inputs from Reuters)

Istanbul summit: France will ensure Idlib ceasefire remains, Russia to discuss return of Syrian refugees

Turkey on Friday denied giving "any kind of audio tape" from the investigation into the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo or any American official.

"It is out of the question for Turkey to give any kind of audio tape to Pompeo or any other US official," said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, two days after meeting with the US's top diplomat for talks in Ankara.

Turkey's pro-government press has reported that Turkey has an audio recording that proves the alleged murder of Khashoggi at the consulate and that he was tortured before his death.

The existence of the tape has never been confirmed on the record by Turkish officials.

ABC News, quoting a senior Turkish official, reported Thursday that during his visit to Turkey this week Pompeo heard this audio and was shown a transcript of the recording. But Pompeo denied the report.

"I've seen no tape. I’ve seen no –- or I've heard no tape. I’ve seen no transcript," he told reporters during a trip to Latin America.&nbsp;

Cavusoglu, like other Turkish officials, stopped short of revealing details of the investigation but vowed they would be shared in due course.

"We will share the results to emerge with the entire world. It is out of the question for us to share this or that information with any country," he said, quoted by the state-run Anadolu news agency.

Turkey on Friday denied giving "any kind of audio tape" from the investigation into the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo or any American official.

Turkey on Friday denied giving "any kind of audio tape" from the investigation into the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo or any American official. "It is out of the question for Turkey to give any kind of audio tape to Pompeo or any other US official," said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, two days after meeting with the US's top diplomat for talks in Ankara. Turkey's pro-government press has reported that Turkey has an audio recording that proves the alleged murder of Khashoggi at the consulate and that he was tortured before his death. The existence of the tape has never been confirmed on the record by Turkish officials. ABC News, quoting a senior Turkish official, reported Thursday that during his visit to Turkey this week Pompeo heard this audio and was shown a transcript of the recording. But Pompeo denied the report. "I've seen no tape. I’ve seen no –- or I've heard no tape. I’ve seen no transcript," he told reporters during a trip to Latin America. Cavusoglu, like other Turkish officials, stopped short of revealing details of the investigation but vowed they would be shared in due course. "We will share the results to emerge with the entire world. It is out of the question for us to share this or that information with any country," he said, quoted by the state-run Anadolu news agency.

Turkey denies giving 'any kind of audio tape' on Khashoggi to US

Turkish police including forensic experts entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Monday evening in an attempt to find clues on the whereabouts of journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was last believed to be inside the premises.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-considers-admitting-khashoggi-died-in-botched-interrogation-reports-171638">Also Read:&nbsp;Saudi considers admitting Khashoggi died in botched interrogation, </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-considers-admitting-khashoggi-died-in-botched-interrogation-reports-171638">claims</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-considers-admitting-khashoggi-died-in-botched-interrogation-reports-171638">&nbsp;Report</a>

Turkish authorities placed high iron barriers in front of the consulate as a motorcade of six entered the Saudi consulate with officials carrying printers and files. A Saudi delegation had entered the consulate one hour before the Turkish police arrived. Turkish authorities were also seen on the roof, reports said.

Turkey has accused Saudi Arabia of engineering the killing of Khashoggi inside the consulate after he was last seen on October 2nd on CCTV entering the premises. Riyadh has denied the allegations and threatned to take action against anyone accusing it of killing the journalist who was a known critic of Crown Prince Salman.

Meanwhile, President Trump said that after speaking to Prince Salman he had the feeling that the Saudi journalist may have been killed by "rogue killers", adding that Prince Salman's denial on Saudi hand in the killing of the journalist was "very, very strong".

"It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?" the US president speculated. &nbsp;Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King Salman had earlier spoken on the phone as the crisis unravelled before the shocked the world.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo would be travelling to Turkey to meet foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to find out the exact details of the journalist's death. Turkish media had earlier claimed Khashoggi was tortured during the investigation and killed after that the Saudi "hit team" which had flown into Istanbul dismembered his body and removed all evidence.

On Monday, US media speculated that Saudi Arabia is considering admitting that Jamal Khashoggi died during an interrogation that went wrong. CNN cited two sources as saying the Saudis are preparing a report that will acknowledge Khashoggi's death resulted from an interrogation that went wrong during an intended abduction. Although the media giant cautioned that the report could change.

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Turkish police including forensic experts entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Monday evening in an attempt to find clues on the whereabouts of journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was last believed to be inside the premises.

Turkish police including forensic experts entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Monday evening in an attempt to find clues on the whereabouts of journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was last believed to be inside the premises. Also Read: Saudi considers admitting Khashoggi died in botched interrogation, claims Report Turkish authorities placed high iron barriers in front of the consulate as a motorcade of six entered the Saudi consulate with officials carrying printers and files. A Saudi delegation had entered the consulate one hour before the Turkish police arrived. Turkish authorities were also seen on the roof, reports said. Turkey has accused Saudi Arabia of engineering the killing of Khashoggi inside the consulate after he was last seen on October 2nd on CCTV entering the premises. Riyadh has denied the allegations and threatned to take action against anyone accusing it of killing the journalist who was a known critic of Crown Prince Salman. Meanwhile, President Trump said that after speaking to Prince Salman he had the feeling that the Saudi journalist may have been killed by "rogue killers", adding that Prince Salman's denial on Saudi hand in the killing of the journalist was "very, very strong". "It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?" the US president speculated. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King Salman had earlier spoken on the phone as the crisis unravelled before the shocked the world. US secretary of state Mike Pompeo would be travelling to Turkey to meet foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to find out the exact details of the journalist's death. Turkish media had earlier claimed Khashoggi was tortured during the investigation and killed after that the Saudi "hit team" which had flown into Istanbul dismembered his body and removed all evidence. On Monday, US media speculated that Saudi Arabia is considering admitting that Jamal Khashoggi died during an interrogation that went wrong. CNN cited two sources as saying the Saudis are preparing a report that will acknowledge Khashoggi's death resulted from an interrogation that went wrong during an intended abduction. Although the media giant cautioned that the report could change.

Turkish forensic experts search Saudi consulate in Istanbul over Khashoggi's disappearance

Twenty-two people, including children, were killed when a truck carrying migrants crashed in the western Turkish province of Izmir on Sunday, the state-owned Anadolu news agency reported.

The mangled wreckage of the open-topped truck lay toppled over in a canal, some 20 metres below a highway from which it apparently fell after crashing through a barrier, video and photos published by Anadolu showed.

Thirteen people were injured and taken by ambulance to nearby hospitals, it said.

A state prosecutor has launched an investigation into the crash and the truck driver could face arrest after hospital treatment, it added.

According to the private Demiroren news agency (DHA), the truck's passengers were foreign migrants who had reached a deal with traffickers to be transported by boat to the Greek island of Samos south of Izmir.

Nine of those injured were children, DHA said. It was not clear where the migrants were from.

Turkey became one of the main launch points for more than a million migrants taking the sea route to EU countries in 2015, many fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East and Africa.

The influx of migrants was drastically curtailed by a 2016 accord between Ankara and the EU, after hundreds died crossing to Greek islands a few miles off Turkey.

The truck driver lost control of the vehicle and it crashed at around 8 am&nbsp;(0500 GMT) in the Gaziemir district, near the airport south of Izmir city, DHA said.

A CNN Turk correspondent at the scene said emergency workers had worked to retrieve the dead and wounded trapped beneath the truck.

Twenty-two people, including children, were killed when a truck carrying migrants crashed in the western Turkish province of Izmir on Sunday, the state-owned Anadolu news agency reported.

Twenty-two people, including children, were killed when a truck carrying migrants crashed in the western Turkish province of Izmir on Sunday, the state-owned Anadolu news agency reported. The mangled wreckage of the open-topped truck lay toppled over in a canal, some 20 metres below a highway from which it apparently fell after crashing through a barrier, video and photos published by Anadolu showed. Thirteen people were injured and taken by ambulance to nearby hospitals, it said. A state prosecutor has launched an investigation into the crash and the truck driver could face arrest after hospital treatment, it added. According to the private Demiroren news agency (DHA), the truck's passengers were foreign migrants who had reached a deal with traffickers to be transported by boat to the Greek island of Samos south of Izmir. Nine of those injured were children, DHA said. It was not clear where the migrants were from. Turkey became one of the main launch points for more than a million migrants taking the sea route to EU countries in 2015, many fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East and Africa. The influx of migrants was drastically curtailed by a 2016 accord between Ankara and the EU, after hundreds died crossing to Greek islands a few miles off Turkey. The truck driver lost control of the vehicle and it crashed at around 8 am (0500 GMT) in the Gaziemir district, near the airport south of Izmir city, DHA said. A CNN Turk correspondent at the scene said emergency workers had worked to retrieve the dead and wounded trapped beneath the truck.

Twenty-two killed as truck carrying migrants crashes in Turkey

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