Obama congratulates Erdoğan on phone

U.S. President Barack Obama has called Turkey’s president-elect, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and "congratulated" him for his latest poll victory.

Obama called Erdoğan in the evening of Aug. 12 as a first in recent months. Erdoğan had earlier complained on a television programme that he couldn't speak to Obama "for a long time."

While a White House spokesman said further details of the call would be provided later, Turkish sources quoted Obama as saying "Congratulations" to Erdoğan.

The White House had announced Aug. 10 that Obama was expected to speak with Erdoğan in the coming days.

“President [Barack] Obama looks forward to working with Prime Minister Erdoğan in his new role and with whomever succeeds him as the next prime minister,” White House national security spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said in response to an Anadolu Agency correspondent’s question.

Erdoğan was elected Aug. 10 by an absolute majority, securing 51.79 percent of the vote, according to unofficial counts. Without giving the exact numbers, the Supreme Election Board (YSK) confirmed late Aug. 10 that Erdoğan had won outright, making a scheduled Aug. 24 run-off election unnecessary.