Islamists win Turkish elections

Turkey’s Islamic-rooted ruling party won parliamentary elections by a big margin tonight in a contest that had pitted the government against opponents warning of a threat to secular traditions.

The victory by the Justice and Development Party signalLed continuity in economic reforms and in Turkey’s efforts to join the European Union. However, the new government was likely to face persistent tension over the role of Islam in society, and questions about how to deal with Kurdish rebel violence.