Turkey's parliament has failed for a second time to elect the Islamist-rooted governing party's candidate for president, Abdullah Gul.
Mr Gul, the only nominee, withdrew his candidacy, after a boycott by the opposition made the vote invalid.
Two thirds of MPs were required to vote. Turkey's governing AK party is now expected to focus its attention on early parliamentary elections in July.
His bid, backed by the ruling AK party, revealed a deep divide over the future direction of Turkey, which has a strongly secular constitution but a predominantly Muslim population.
