Recep Tayyip Erdogan wins Turkish presidential vote

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reportedly won his country's first direct presidential election, the BBC reports on Sunday night.

With almost all votes counted, Mr Erdogan had won about 52%, against 38% for his main rival, officials said. He said the people had shown their will.

Before the election Mr Erdogan said he wanted to strengthen Turkey's largely ceremonial presidency.

He is revered by supporters for boosting the economy.

But his critics lament his authoritarian approach and Islamist leanings in a secular state, says the BBC's Mark Lowen, in the Turkish capital Ankara.