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1st LD: "Yes" votes win in Turkish referendum after 99 pct count of vote

Xinhua, April 16, 2017 Adjust font size:

Turkey voted to support constitutional change with "Yes" votes leading on 51.3 pct in the historic referendum after 99 pct count of vote, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Sunday.

As of 9:35 p.m. local time (1835 GMT), unofficial results showed "Yes" with 51.34 pct while "No" had 48.66 pct.

The data showed that Turkey's three biggest cities Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, as well as the predominantly Kurdish southeast voted "No."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli and Grand Unity Party (BBP) leader Destici, the three leaders who backed the "Yes" vote, to congratulate them over the referendum victory.

The opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said the referendum results are "an important success and achievement."

The Turkish nation, with its free will, has given approval to the transition into the presidential system, he said in a written statement on Sunday night.

Bahceli warned against possible acts that could deepen political polarization in the country and called on people to avoid such acts that could abolish public peace.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) demanded recount of up to 60 pct of votes.

The "Yes" campaign is backed by the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), whereas the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) is in favor of "No".

More than 55 million people in this country were registered to vote and more than 1.3 million Turkish voters cast their ballots abroad. Endit