World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkey's Constitutional Court has turned down an appeal from opposition parties objecting to the candidacy of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the presidential election.

The Republican People's Party and the Liberal Democratic Party filed independent claims that Erdogan should step down as prime minister if he is to run for president.

The court ruled on Wednesday that there was a "lack of jurisdiction over the person" in the claims, allowing Erdogan to stay in office for the duration of the presidential campaign.

There are three candidates in the race for the presidency: Erdogan is the candiate for the ruling Justice and Development Party; Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has been chosen as a joint candidate by the Republican People's Party and the Nationalist Movement Party; and Selahattin Demirtas is standing for the Peoples' Democracy Party.

The vote to elect Turkey’s 12th president will be held on August 10, the first time the president will be elected by direct popular vote. The president has previously been chosen by parliament.