Leaders of Turkey's top political parties cast votes

ISTANBUL

Leaders of top political parties in Turkey have cast their votes in the country's 26th general election.

Turkish Prime Minister and Justice and Development (AK) Party leader Ahmet Davutoglu voted in his hometown in central Anatolian Konya province Sunday.

“We go to polls to do our civic duties once again. I wish good luck to our country, people and humanity,” Davutoglu said.

"I call on all citizens to go to the polls in a peaceful manner and reflect their wills in the elections," the Turkish premier added.

Davutoglu is expected to return to the capital Ankara late Sunday.

Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu exercised his right to vote in Ankara. "These elections are important for our democracy, the Republic, our children and future," he told reporters.

About terrorist attacks on security forces and civilians in Turkey, Kilicdaroglu said: "We are against terrorism. We want peace and welfare in this country. We want to live together and fraternally in this country".

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli also cast his vote in Ankara. "I think these elections will be a milestone for Turkish people's future," Bahceli said.

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chairman Selahattin Demirtas cast his vote in Istanbul. "What we want and need most is peace. I wish peace," Demirtas said.

HDP Co-Chairwoman Figen Yuksekdag voted in eastern Van province. "I hope the elections on Nov. 1 will reveal a strong democracy and I wish for peace".

Voting in Turkey's 26th general election began at 8 a.m. local time on Sunday. More than 54 million Turks are eligible to vote in a poll to elect 550 deputies to the Grand National Assembly.

A total of 175,006 polling stations countrywide will remain open until 5 p.m. local time.