World Bulletin / News Desk

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif are among those who have congratulated Turkey's Prime Minister and AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his party's triumphs in Sunday's local elections.

Putin telephoned Erdogan on Monday following the AK Party's successes, according to Turkish officials.

Bakir Izetbegovic, the Bosniak representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina's tripartite presidency said the Justice and Development (AK) Party's win was "a magnificent victory" in an official message sent to Erdogan.

“We follow the AK Party’s election races, as if our Party of Democratic Action (SDA) was the one taking part in the election,” said Izetbegovic. “We enjoy Turkey’s successes as our own.”

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Dervis Eroglu also made phone calls to Erdogan to congratulate him on the AK Party’s achievements in Sunday’s local elections, according to prime ministry sources.

AK Party's electoral win unites Palestine

Despite their political differences, rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas on Monday congratulated Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his AK Party's electoral victory.

"We [Fatah] respect the will of the people and the results of the ballot box," Fatah spokesman Osama Qawasmi told Anadolu Agency.

He noted Turkey's support for the Palestinian people and for Palestine's recent bid for statehood at the United Nations.

"We wish Turkey further progress and stability," Qawasmi added.

Meanwhile, Hamas – which has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007 – also congratulated Erdogan on his party's solid electoral win.

"We congratulate Turkey on its democratic success; we hope this election will encourage more development and progress in Turkey," Gaza government spokesman Ihab al-Ghusain told AA.

He went on to voice hope that the election results would encourage Turkey to extend further support to "persecuted peoples" and the Palestinian cause.

"Turkey has always adopted stances supportive of the Palestinian cause," al-Ghusain said. "And we believe these poll results will serve to further bolster the Turkish government's support for the Palestinian cause."

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri attributed the AK Party's electoral victory to its "great efforts" at the local level and its admirable positions vis-à-vis the Islamic nation in general and the Palestinian cause in particular.

"We're confident that this victory will be used to serve Turkey's best interests," Abu Zuhri said. "It will also be used to boost Turkey's influence at both the regional and international levels."