Polls open in Turkey local vote seen as referendum

ANKARA: Polls opened Sunday in Turkey for municipal elections that are seen as a referendum on the rule of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has faced anti-government protests and a major corruption scandal. More than 50 million voters were to cast their ballots for mayors and local assemblies at almost 200,000 pollings stations, pitting Erdogan´s Islamic-rooted Justice and Development party against secular, nationalist and other groups. The polls opened first in eastern Turkey and will open later in the west.