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Tayyip Erdogan election win: Incredible scenes as Turkish president claims victory in presidential race

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has claimed victory in the country’s presidential election.

Speaking in televised remarks from Istanbul, the 64-year-old said "the nation has entrusted to me the responsibility of the presidency and the executive duty".

Thousands of supporters took to the streets of Istanbul shooting flares and celebrating in incredible scenes.

He also declared victory for the People's Alliance, an electoral cooperation between his ruling Justice and Development Party and the small Nationalist Movement Party, saying they had a "parliamentary majority" in the 600-member assembly.

Sunday's elections will allow the president to form the government, appoint ministers, vice presidents and top bureaucrats, issue decrees, prepare the budget and impose states of emergency.

The leading Turkish opposition party said it believes the results for the presidential elections are incomplete and may go to a second round.

Tayyip Erdogan's supporters celebrate in the streets of Instanbul (Getty Images)
Tayyip Erdogan's supporters celebrate in the streets of Instanbul (Getty Images)

Spokesman Bulent Tezcan of the Republican People's Party criticised Turkey's state-run news agency for reporting that Mr Erdogan has won enough to avoid a run-off and accused the agency of distorting the results.

He said "there is a high probability the presidential election will go to a second round".

The state-run Anadolu news agency has Mr Erdogan leading the race with 52.63 per cent, more than the 50 per cent required to avoid a second round on July 8.

Erdogan's supporters celebrate in Istanbul (Getty Images)
Erdogan's supporters celebrate in Istanbul (Getty Images)

Mr Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, was also hoping to retain its majority in parliament.

But Mr Erdogan - who has been in power since 2003 - faced a more robust and united opposition, which vowed to return Turkey to a parliamentary democracy with strong checks and balances.

Five candidates ran against Mr Erdogan in the presidential race.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed victory (AFP/Getty Images)
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed victory (AFP/Getty Images)

Mr Erdogan's main challenger was 54-year-old former physics teacher Muharrem Ince, who was backed by the centre-left main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, and wooed crowds with an unexpectedly engaging election campaign.

His rallies in Turkey's three main cities of Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir drew massive numbers.

Turkey was also electing 600 politicians to parliament - 50 more than in the previous assembly.

Additional reporting by Press Association.