Turkey's ruling AKP re-elects Erdogan as chairman

Erdogan, the sole candidate for the party helm, garnered 1,421 out of 1,424 votes, while the rest three votes were invalid in the fourth ordinary congress of the AKP.

Having been re-elected as the AKP chairman for the last time until 2015, Erdogan signaled that he will not leave the political arena, tacitly giving a hint that he will indeed run for presidency in the upcoming 2014 elections.

"We will do our best in every duty that our nation assigns to us with the conscience of our clause," Erdogan said in his address at his party's congress.

The congress' theme is "Great nation, great power, vision for 2023," in reference to the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey.

Erdogan, who was welcomed with applause and excited cheers of thousands of AKP supporters, delivered an emotional two-and-half- hour long speech.

The AKP, founded on Aug. 14, 2001 as the 39th political party of Turkey, came to power after winning the general elections in November, 2002.