Polls have closed in the Turkish elections - where voters are deciding whether to grant President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a second five-year term.

He has faced a tough battle with Muharrem Ince, a centre-left candidate who has energised the opposition.

Casting his own vote, the president claimed there had been a high turnout. First results are due later on Sunday.

If Mr Erdogan wins, he will adopt major new powers that critics say will weaken democratic rule.

He is hoping to get more than 50% of the vote in this ballot to avoid going to a second round.

As well as the presidency, voters are also choosing members of parliament.

Turkey remains under a state of emergency imposed in the aftermath of a failed coup in July 2016.

These elections were originally scheduled for November 2019 but were brought forward by Mr Erdogan.

"Turkey is going through a democratic revolution with this election," the president told reporters after he voted in Istanbul.

Meanwhile Turkey's electoral commission said it would look into reports of ballot-stuffing and intimidation of observers in the southern Urfa province, which borders Syria.

bbc.com