The first results in Turkey's parliamentary elections show that the Islamist-based Justice and Development Party (AK) has taken an early lead. Elections were called 18 months early after the coalition government collapsed due to bitter in-fighting and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's long illness. Mr Ecevit is now retiring. AK, which says is has severed links with Islamic militancy, is facing pressure to maintain Turkey's pro-Western policies, including entry into the European Union. Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said his party will adhere to the secular principles laid town in the Turkish constitution. "[AK] is determined to accelerate Turkey's EU membership process and to implement an economic programme to speed up Turkey's integration with the world," Mr Erdogan said as the results were coming in.

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