Hardliner wins Turkish Cypriot leadership election

A hardliner who favours closer ties with Turkey and a tougher stance with rival Greek Cypriots was been elected Turkish Cypriot President on Sunday.

Turkish Cypriot broadcaster BRT said with 100% of the votes counted, Ersin Tatar secured 51.74% of the vote, defeating leftist incumbent Mustafa Akinci with 48.26%.

Tatar appeared to have benefited from a higher turnout in the runoff, managing to rally supporters from the approximately 200,000-strong electorate who may not have voted in the first round.

Akinci conceded defeat to Tatar in a speech to supporters at his campaign headquarters, congratulating his opponent on his victory.

Akinci, 72, was a champion of Turkish Cypriots who oppose Turkey's complete domination of their affairs.

Tatar, 60, advocates fully aligning Turkish Cypriot policies with those of Turkey, the region's patron.

The Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of a union with Greece.

Only Turkey recognizes a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north that is economically and militarily dependent on Ankara.

The island's internationally recognized government has its seat in the Greek Cypriot south and is part of the 27-nation European Union.