FIRST ROUND OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN TURKEY GIVES NO RESULT
In the first round of presidential elections at the 20 August session of the Turkish Parliament, the new President of country as not been elected.
After causing Turkey`s biggest political crisis in a decade, Abdullah Gul on Monday again failed to be elected president in the first round of voting by falling short of the two-thirds majority necessary to win.
Turkey`s parliament is to pick a new president this month after the country`s secular opposition, backed by the military, derailed a previous election in April because of objections to the ruling Justice and Development Party`s (AKP) candidate, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.
Following its decisive victory in the July 22 elections, the AKP has re-nominated Gul for the presidency. The Turkish parliament will choose the new president in a series of up to four votes, the first of was held on Monday.
In the first round of voting, Gul received 341 votes from the 550-seat house, 26 short of the two-thirds majority of 367 needed in the first round. The second round of voting is scheduled 24 August (Friday).
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