Turkish Prime Minister Recip Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party – the AKP has reportedly taken an early lead in the country’s local elections. <br /><br />With more than 24 percent of the votes Turkish television has put the PM’s party ahead with between 44 and 48 percent of the vote. <br /><br />Analysts see the ballot as a crisis referendum on Erdogan’s 10-year-rule.<br /><br />Kemal Kilicdaroglu is the leader of the main opposition. His Republican People’s Party has portrayed the PM as a corrupt dictator.<br /><br />The Islamist – rooted AK Party is aiming to equal or better its 2009 vote of 38.8 percent. A vote below the 36 percent mark would be considered a huge blow to Erdogan.<br /><br />Reports claim electricity has been cut in several areas in Istanbul and dozens of towns while votes are being counted.
