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| Supporters rushed to touch Recep Tayyip Erdogan after he cast his vote in Istanbul |
Outgoing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won his country's first direct presidential election, provisional results show.
With almost all votes counted, Mr Erdogan had won about 52%, against 38% for his main rival Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, who has admitted defeat.
Before the election Mr Erdogan said he wanted to strengthen Turkey's largely ceremonial presidency.
He has won successive elections but has also proved divisive.
Mr Erdogan is revered by supporters for boosting the economy and for giving a voice to conservatives.
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.
After the provisional results were announced Mr Ihsanoglu, joint candidate for the two main opposition parties, said: "I congratulate Mr Prime Minister and wish him success."
Mr Erdogan said: "The people showed their will at the polls today."
He has been prime minister since 2003 and was barred from standing for another term.
He needed more than 50% of the vote for an outright victory, avoiding a second round.
Supporters rushed to touch Recep Tayyip Erdogan after he cast his vote in Istanbul
'Show our colours'
Our correspondent says turnout appears to be much lower than expected - some voters may have been dissuaded by the summer heat and holidays.
Turkey - wedged between the turmoil of Iraq, Syria and Ukraine - is an important ally for the West, our correspondent adds, and whoever becomes head of state will hold a key geopolitical position.
Mr Erdogan's other rival, Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas, took about 9% of the vote.
In his final rally in the city of Konya on Saturday, Mr Erdogan vowed to raise Turkey's democratic standards and economic record to create a "world leader and global power".
"There is no unattainable dream or unattainable objective for this nation," he said.
Our correspondent says turnout appears to be much lower than expected - some voters may have been dissuaded by the summer heat and holidays.
Turkey - wedged between the turmoil of Iraq, Syria and Ukraine - is an important ally for the West, our correspondent adds, and whoever becomes head of state will hold a key geopolitical position.
Mr Erdogan's other rival, Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas, took about 9% of the vote.
In his final rally in the city of Konya on Saturday, Mr Erdogan vowed to raise Turkey's democratic standards and economic record to create a "world leader and global power".
"There is no unattainable dream or unattainable objective for this nation," he said.
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