Turks vote 'yes' in referendum

Turks have approved constitutional changes that are set to reshape the judiciary and curb the powers of the military, in a referendum seen as a tussle between an Islamic-influenced government and its secular opponents. A provisional count, after polls closed on Sunday, showed 58 percent of voters approving the amendments, with 99 percent of ballot boxes counted, according to NTV, a Turkish broadcaster. "According to provisional results, the changes were approved by about 58 percent... The turnout was between 77 and 78 percent," Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish prime minister, said. Earlier opinion polls had suggested up to 56 percent of Turks could approve the 26 constitutional amendments or that it might be too close to call. "We have passed a historic threshold on the way to advanced democracy and the supremacy of law," Erdogan told cheering supporters of a vote that was seen as a crucial test for his governing Justice and Development Party.