we will leave it there, silin girit. we will bring some - silin girit.. germany has announced a billion—dollar aid package, its biggest yet, showing that it will remain serious about supporting kyiv in the wake of russia's invasion. —— a 3,000,000,000-dollar russia's invasion. —— a 3,000,000,000—dollar military aid package to ukraine in that breaking news line just now. this comes the last hour we have heard that president zelensky is visiting rome, where he will meet italian leaders and have an audience with the pope. he tweeted it was an important visit for what he said was the approaching victory against russia. let's show you the first pictures of mr zelensky�*s convoy in rome. italy's prime minister, giorgia meloni, has been one of ukraine's more vocal backers, although telling people overall are opposed to signing ukraine more weapons. those are the first pictures there of a president zelensky arriving live now to the bbc�*s sofia bettiza in rome. what more can you tell us about this visit? , , ., , , visit? president zelensky has 'ust landed at ci

let's talk now to our correspondent, silin girit at the opposition�*s headquarters in istanbul.ry calm behind you. what is the atmosphere like? it feels like the calm before the storm. counting is under way and everyone across the nation feels very edgy, actually, about what might happen, what is going to happen. if it is a tight margin every vote will count and if it is a tight margin there is this fear of the repeat of what has happened three years ago during the municipal elections in istanbul. the votes were counted and there was a small margin and the election process had to be repeated again. that is what everyone fears across the nation. they don't want a repeat of the election. they want a clear result. so that was what the president called upon here in the headquarters of the main opposition party, they made the same call and called upon the voters to protect their boats, to protect the ballot boxes. now election security is the main issue. the following few hours will determine whether that will be a fair and smooth process as well. truth? fair and smooth process as we

let's talk now to our correspondent, silin girit at the opposition�*s headquarters in istanbul.cause we were saying earlier, that it is expected to be very tight. earlier, that it is expected to be ve tiaht. , earlier, that it is expected to be very tight-— earlier, that it is expected to be ve tiaht. , , , . very tight. yes the race is expected to be very tight _ very tight. yes the race is expected to be very tight and _ very tight. yes the race is expected to be very tight and it _ very tight. yes the race is expected to be very tight and it is _ very tight. yes the race is expected to be very tight and it is already - to be very tight and it is already controversial. there are different results coming from different agencies, if you look at the state engines agency reports then you would think that mr erdogan is winning this election by clear margin. however, if you look at another agency report of the outcome, of the election, then you have a totally different understanding of what has happened today. and that is why opposition figures have been talking to the press live an

promising to restore democracy and improve relations with the west. 0ur correspondent in istanbul silin giritturkey's history. for the very first time in decades, there is a real possibility that president kerrigan's rule could come to an end. he has won five parliamentary elections, two presidential elections, three referendums —— president ed gauguin. but now the politicaljack —— bullet —— president erdogan. the president could lose his seat in the main opposition bloc�*s candidate kemal kilicdaroglu. he is short of securing the presidency in the first round. kemal kilicdaroglu is a soft—spoken person and described as an exact opposite of president erdogan. he pledges to reverse president erdogan's policies and to restore the independence of the central bank and to bring back the parliamentary system. the economy has been a major subject in the run—up to the selection, especially because last year, the inflation hit a record high of over 80%, currently stands at aa% officially, but still, there is a cost of living crisis. that is why all of the candidates are pledging better wages, better p

joining me live is our correspondent silin girit at the opposition republican people's party headquartersistanbul. our middle east corrrespondent, anna foster, is in the turkish city of adana which was badly hit by the recent earthquake. firstly, tell us where we are because the polls closed a couple of hours ago and each side is claiming they are in the lead so talk us through it. it they are in the lead so talk us through it— they are in the lead so talk us through it. they are in the lead so talk us throu~hit. , , ., , ., through it. it is the same story all over again. _ through it. it is the same story all over again, every _ through it. it is the same story all over again, every time _ through it. it is the same story all over again, every time in - through it. it is the same story all over again, every time in the - through it. it is the same story all over again, every time in the last| over again, every time in the last few years, turkey has an election, and after the polls are closed and counting starts, there is this controversy. the opposition is accusing the state news agency

our correspondent in istanbul, silin girit, has been giving us the latest. powerful, invincible figure. the first time, the opposition for pay could actually win this election. their candidate could become the next president of turkey. however, that didn't happen to be the case. maybe the opinion polls were wrong, they were wrong, obviously, but maybe theyjust were wrong, obviously, but maybe they just couldn't were wrong, obviously, but maybe theyjust couldn't hold the nation's... they weren't theyjust couldn't hold the nation's. .. they weren't truthful to their beliefs. we have been talking about two very different candidates, kemal kilicdaroglu on one side, president erdogan on the other, they are total opposites. not only their characters, their personalities are different, and their visions. apparently, half of the nation still trusts in president erdogan's vision of turkey. i trusts in president erdogan's vision of turke . . ~ , ., ., trusts in president erdogan's vision of turke . . ~ ., of turkey. i will take you to some live pictures _ of turkey. i