Turkish elections appear to be heading for a second round despite the two main rivals claiming to have an early lead.
Voters’ support for the current president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan fell below the 50% needed to secure a win, according to state-run Anadolu.
The opposition mayor of the Turkish capital, Ankara, said it was “very likely” that the elections would head for a second round at the end of the month.
Earlier, the parties of Mr Erdogan and main opposition challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu both said they had the edge, with news agencies around the country offering competing results.
Both sides rejected each other’s count. The official result has not yet been announced.
Mr Erdogan, 69, who has ruled the country for 20 years, is seeking a third consecutive term as president but faces his toughest challenge.
If no presidential candidate obtains more than 50% of the vote, a second round will be held on May 28.
Some Friday polls had given challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu a slight lead
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Opinion polls before the election had given Mr Kilicdaroglu, who leads a six-party alliance, a slight lead, and two polls on Friday even showed him above the 50% threshold. However, most had suggested a tight margin.
Turkish voters also elect parliamentarians to their 600-seat assembly on Sunday.
