Abdullah Gul is elected as the 11^th president of Turkey. In the third round of the election Gul received his own party AKP’s 339 votes out of the 448 MPs present on the floor of the parliament. The main opposition party CHP did not participate.

The parliament is in recess for about two hours after which it will reconvene for the swearing in ceremony of the new president. Gul will take over the presidency tonight in Cankaya (the presidential palace) from Ahmet Necdet Sezer with a modest ceremony.

While massive celebrations are planned in Abdullah Gul’s hometown Kayseri and other places, half of the nation is sad and concerned.

Source: All Turkish dailies, August 28, 2007