Turkish president congratulates new parliament speaker

By Ahmet Salih Alacaci and Sefa Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s president on Sunday congratulated the country’s newly elected parliament speaker.

Speaking at a rally in the southern province of Hatay, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the People’s Alliance of his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party earned a "grand victory" with the election of Mustafa Sentop.

Sentop, a lawmaker from northwestern Tekirdag province, received 336 votes in the third round of voting by the Grand National Assembly of 600 seats.

The presidency released a statement saying Erdogan called Sentop to congratulate him on his election.

The president also called Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahceli to thank him for his party’s support in the election.