World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkey's Supreme Election Board has banned a TV advertisement supporting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan presidential run due to it containing religious symbols, Turkey's broadcast regulator institution has announced.

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.