A Turkish woman casts her vote in Istanbul on Sunday as Turkey gears up for local elections ahead of a presidential vote in six months and parliamentary polls next year. Turkey's Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, embattled by protests and corruption scandals, faced a crucial popularity test Sunday when more than 50 million eligible voters cast their ballots in local elections. Photo: AFP

Turkey's Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, embattled by protests and corruption scandals, faced a crucial popularity test Sunday when more than 50 million eligible voters cast their ballots in local elections.

Hailed as the "sultan" by his loyal followers and labeled a "dictator" by his bitter foes, Erdogan has campaigned for weeks alongside mayoral candidates, turning the vote into a referendum on his 11-year-rule.

The outcome - especially in the megacity Istanbul and capital Ankara - will impact his future as he eyes a run for the presidency in August, or changes party rules to seek a fourth term as prime minister.

The polls opened first in eastern Turkey at 7 am and will open in the west at 8 am.

Femen activists staged a bare-breasted protest against Erdogan on Sunday.

The two women, who had the words "Ban Erdogan" written across their chests, were quickly covered up and arrested after flashing their breasts in the Istanbul polling station where Erdogan had been due to vote.

"Despite all the undesired (opposition) statements and speeches at rallies until now, our people will tell the truth today," said Erdogan, head of the Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party on Sunday.

"The people's decision should be respected."

The past 10 months have spelled crisis for Erdogan, a leader long hailed at home and abroad for driving economic growth and turning the country spanning Europe and Asia into an emerging global player.

But the secular urban middle-class has been alienated since police harshly cracked down on protesters in Istanbul's Gezi Park in June last year, sparking off weeks of street clashes that left eight people dead and thousands wounded.

The harsh response fuelled a growing perception of an autocratic leader seeking "one-man rule" while falling out with former allies - especially the influential Pennyslvania-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, now his declared arch-enemy.

Erdogan has accused the  imam, and his loyalists, of being behind a spate of wiretaps and social media leaks exposing graft and high-level security talks on military action in Syria.

Judging by the enthusiastic crowd welcomes the former mayor received Saturday - with followers loudly cheering him, some climbing trees to catch a glimpse - his conservative Justice and Development Party  seemed to continue its election victories here.

AFP