Turks votes in referendum, Erdogan declares victory, opponents plan to challenge

Turks has made a historic decision in supporting an executive presidential system, after voting "Yes" to approve the proposed constitution change in Sunday's referendum, a decision that could grant mores weeping powers to the president in the biggest overhaul of modern Turkish politics.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared victory on Sunday saying that 25 million people had voted Yes to support the proposal, giving the "Yes" camp 51.5 percent of the vote, 1.3 million ahead of "No".

According to reports by Reuters, opponents said the vote to replace Turkey's parliamentary system of government with an all-powerful presidency and abolish the office of prime minister, was marred by irregularities adding that they would challenge its result.

The Turkish Election Commission has yet to release its official results.

According to Erdogan, the referendum had closed the door on Turkey's long history of military intervention in government.

"Turkey for the first time in its history has decided with the will of the parliament and its people on such an important change," he said.

"For the first time in the history of the Republic, we are changing our ruling system through civil politics. That is why it is very significant."

Under the new changes, most of which will come into effect after the next presidential elections in 2019, the president will appoint the cabinet and an undefined number of vice-presidents, and be able to select and remove senior civil servants without parliamentary approval.

Official results is expected to be announced in about 10 - 11 days, after any objections had been considered.