World Bulletin / News Desk

Only ten percent of Turks living abroad voted in the Turkish presidential elections, said Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Emrullah Isler on Monday.

The 232 thousand overseas votes were brought back to Turkey on Sunday. Isler blamed the inflexibility of the appointment system for not more of the 2.8 million Turkish citizens abroad coming out to vote.

In order to vote, Turks needed to get an appointment from an embassy or consulate in their resident countries. Many voters were not allowed to vote if they missed their appointment time.

Isler also said so far 150 thousand Turkish citizens -- mainly those coming back to Turkey on holiday -- had voted in polling stations set up in airports and customs a week ago.

The votes delivered from abroad will be counted on election day in centers in High Election Board's headquarter in the Turkish capital, Ankara.