World Bulletin / News Desk

Leader of Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda movement Rachid Ghannouchi has said the electoral victory of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in the country's local elections highlights Turkey's support for the Arab Spring revolutions and the Palestinian cause.

"I am so happy with the election results, which came at an appropriate time to underline support for the Arab Spring revolutions and the Palestinian cause," Ghannouchi said in a cable of congratulations to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He said the electoral victory reflects the popularity of the AK Party ahead of the Turkish presidential elections in August and next year's parliamentary elections.

AK Party received 45.56 percent of votes in Sunday's local elections, despite anti-government protests in summer 2013, a December anti-graft probe and a wave of leaked recordings of alleged conversations involving high-profile officials, including Erdogan.