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TEHRAN, Apr 08 - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said some "organized crime" had been carried out during last week's election for Istanbul mayor when results showed his ruling AKP candidate narrowly lost the race.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - The AKP demanded a recount in Ankara and Istanbul citing irregularities after tallies showed the party was defeated in both cities in what would be a major setback in a decade and a half in power.
Erdogan's remarks appeared to signal more AKP challenges over Istanbul, the country's economic hub and largest city, echoing commentary in pro-government media last week denouncing a "ballot box putsch" during the March 31 election.
"We are seeing that some organized crimes have been carried out," Erdogan said at a press conference before a trip to Russia, without giving details. "There is an element of robbery in all of this. There was some theft at the ballot box."
In the capital Ankara, the Supreme Electoral Council on Monday officially handed opposition CHP party candidate Mansur Yavas his mandate, an AFP reporter said.
Erdogan's AKP won most votes nationwide in the election, but voters appeared to punish the party in the two big cities with Turkey's economy in recession and inflation in double digits after a currency crisis last year.
Defeat in Istanbul would be especially sensitive for Erdogan who grew up in one of its working-class districts and began his political career as mayor of the city.
AKP's candidate for Istanbul former premier Binali Yildirim and opposition CHP's Ekrem Imamoglu both declared victory soon after the Istanbul race when initial results showed a dead heat.
Source: AFP
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