Tayyip Erdogan
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan gives a thumbs-up sign from the cockpit of the Turkish Primary and Basic Trainer Aircraft "Hurkus" during a ceremony at the Turkish Aerospace Industries in Ankara June 27, 2012. Erdogan took an early lead in Turkey's first direct presidential election. Reuters/Umit Bektas

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan took an early lead in the country's first direct presidential election on Sunday, winning around 56 percent of the vote with 43 percent of ballots counted, Turkish television stations said.

The main opposition candidate, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, was on around 35 percent while Selahattin Demirtas of the pro-Kurdish left-wing People's Democratic Party was on around 8 percent, broadcasters CNN Turk and NTV said.

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