DHAKA: Turkish President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to be officially sworn in after winning the country's first ever popular vote for head of state.

Erdogan, who served three terms as prime minister, has vowed to give more power to the previously ceremonial post, reports BBC.

His critics say the move will make him increasingly authoritarian.

Outgoing Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is set to be PM after being elected head of the governing AK Party.

Under the constitution, Erdogan must cut his ties to the AK Party once he becomes president.

At the party's congress on Wednesday he made his last speech as leader, saying: "What is changing today is the form, not the essence. The mission which our party has assumed, the spirit of its cause, its goals and ideals are not changing."

Davutoglu was the only candidate to replace Mr Erdogan.

In his speech, he said Turkey needed a new constitution, which analysts say would introduce the executive presidency that Mr Erdogan openly seeks.

BDST: 1150 HRS, AUG 28, 2014