Votes are being counted in Turkey after a general election being seen as a crucial test of its secular tradition.

The early election was called to resolve a political crisis after parliament repeatedly failed to agree on a candidate for president.

Secular parties and the powerful military blocked the nomination of a candidate for the post backed by the Islamic-rooted ruling AK Party.

They said Turkey's secularism was in danger - a claim the AKP dismissed.

"Our democracy will emerge from this election strengthened," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters as he cast his vote in Istanbul.

Some 42 million people were eligible to vote in the poll, while 14 parties are vying for seats in the 550-member parliament.

Voting, which was compulsory, started at 0700 (0400 GMT) in eastern Turkey, and polls opened an hour later in the rest of the country.

All election banners, slogans and party flags were taken down on Saturday night, in accordance with Turkey's electoral law.

Polling stations closed at 1700 local time (1400 GMT).

Sentiments high

The BBC's Sarah Rainsford, in Ankara, the Turkish capital, says people streamed in to vote from the early morning.

Many people broke into applause as Turkey's military Chief of Staff, General Yasar Buyukanit, arrived to cast his vote.

The early election was called after the generals warned that Turkey's strict secular system was in danger and the army was prepared to step in to defend it.

Turkey's relations with the outside world, ongoing fighting with separatist Kurds and speculation of an incursion into northern Iraq were also expected to influence the vote.

Record of growth

The election was called in an effort to break a stalemate over a package of constitutional reforms proposed by Mr Erdogan's current government.

Those reforms included a proposal for the country's president to be elected directly by the people, rather than by parliament.

They were put forward by the AK Party, whose candidate for the presidency, Abdullah Gul, was repeatedly rejected by parliament.

Turkey's current president and its secularist establishment have vowed to resist what they regard as the Islamist agenda of the AK Party.

Mr Erdogan's government denies the claims, saying its record in office proves the contrary.

The government has overseen almost five straight years of economic growth and opened membership negotiations with the European Union.

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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan