Electoral board bans PM Erdogan's presidential TV ad

The opening section of the commercial included the sound of Islamic prayer and a woman praying, which the board (YSK) said were religious symbols banned from use in electoral campaigns. "Supreme Election Board decided to ban presidential candidate Erdogan's TV commercial from broadcast due to containing prohibited material in its opening part," said a written statement from Radio and Television Supreme Board (RTUK) on Tuesday. The August 10 election will be the first time Turks have voted directly for their president. The head of state was previously selected by members of parliament.