Saudi king congratulates Erdoğan's presidency


Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz on Friday congratulated Turkish President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on his victory in Sunday's presidential election."I would like to congratulate you [Erdoğan ] and the Turkish people? wishing you luck and the Turkish people prosperity and progress," the Saudi monarch said in a Friday cable to the Turkish president-elect, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.Crown Prince Salman bin Abdelaziz sent a similar cable to Erdoğan.Without providing exact numbers, Turkey's Supreme Election Board confirmed late Sunday that Erdoğan had won the poll outright, securing 51.8 percent of the vote, according to unofficial counts.Erdoğan will be sworn in as Turkey's 12th president on August 28, after which he will appoint a prime minister.Elected to a five-year term, Erdoğan will take over the post from Turkey's outgoing president, Abdullah Gul.