World Bulletin / News Desk

Three more Turkish opposition parties endorsed Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu for the country's forthcoming August 10 presidential election in a joint declaration on Wednesday.

The Democratic Left Party (DSP), the Democrat Party (DP) and the Independent Turkey Party (BTP) joined the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) in endorsing Turkish academic and diplomat Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

Ihsanoglu, who stepped down in December as secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation - a body that promotes the interests of 57 member states - had already been designated as candidate by the two main opposition parties, CHP and MHP on June 16.

The joint declaration, which was read and signed by all five parties on Wednesday, designated Ihsanoglu as a 'great consensual' nominee.

Turkish citizens go to the polls on August 10 to vote for the 12th president of the Republic of Turkey.

This marks the first time that Turkey's president will be elected by direct popular vote.

A candidate needs more than 50 percent of the popular vote to be elected in the first round, which will take place on August 10th.

If none of the three candidates receives the required percentage, a second round on August 24 will take place between the two candidates who received the most votes.