Turkish main opposition accuses fraud in referendum

Turkey's main opposition party presented Monday a video showing suspected fraud in referendum, while repeating its accusations against the election watchdog and calling on the Supreme Election Board (YSK) to annul the referendum results.

In the video showed by the Republican People's Party (CHP), some election officials stamping many ballots continually after the ballot boxes opened and counting started.

"The only way to end ongoing discussions over the referendum's legitimacy is to annul it. What is necessary is the annulment of this referendum," CHP's Vice Chairman Bulent Tezcan told reporters at a press conference Monday.

Tezcan said they were preparing their files to apply to the YSK for the annulment of the referendum, vowing that they would also apply to the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.

"This referendum will take its place in the dark pages of history with its open voting but secret counting. The YSK did not and cannot stage a safe election," Tezcan said. "This referendum will always be remembered as illegitimate."

The CHP accused the YSK of deeming unsealed ballot papers as valid even though the election law forbids such a practice.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late on Sunday declared "yes" to be the winner with a very narrow advantage of 51.4 percent in the controversial referendum that included 18 constitutional amendments and the presidential system reform. Endit