Dhaka, May 28 -- Turks vote on Sunday in a presidential runoff that could see Tayyip Erdogan extend his rule into a third decade and intensify Turkey's increasingly authoritarian path, muscular foreign policy and unorthodox economic governance.

Erdogan, 69, defied opinion polls and came out comfortably ahead with an almost five-point lead over his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the first round on May 14. But he fell just short of the 50% needed to avoid a runoff, in a race with profound consequences for Turkey itself and global geopolitics.

Erdogan has the edge after winning first round

Challenger Kilicdaroglu lagged him by nearly five points

Erdogan's strong showing defied polls, hit opposition mood

Nationalist vote split by different ...