Erdogan wins Turkish presidency, vows \\\'new era\\\'

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised the start of a ‘new era’ after winning presidential elections in an easy triumph, despite fears the country is creeping towards one-man rule. With Turkey still deeply polarised after bitter 2013 protests, Erdogan has vowed to shake up the country's political system to make the president its number one figure. He won 52.0 per cent in Sunday's vote, according to a count of 99 per cent of ballots. That was way ahead of his main opposition rival Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, on 38.3 per cent, and means there will be no second round. The third contender, Kurdish candidate Selahattin Demirtas, won 9.7 per cent of the vote. Erdogan's inauguration is set for August 28. The result marked a personal triumph for Erdogan, 60, who has served as premier since 2003 and could be president for two mandates, until 2024. Thousands of people filled central Istanbul waving Turkish flags and holding Erdogan pictures to celebrate his victory as fireworks lit up the sky over the capital Ankara, according to AFP.