Erdogan cancels election rallies with stomach bug as Turkish expats vote in Germany

1.5 million Turkish citizens in Germany are eligible to vote in the 14 May elections

Erdogan greets supporters on Monday shortly before he was taken ill with a stomach bug (via REUTERS)

Turkey’s Tayyip Erdogan cancelled political rallies on Thursday because of a stomach bug, as citizens overseas began voting in the country’s election.

He was suffering from gastroenteritis but will rejoin the campaign trail as soon as possible, health minister Fahrettin Koca.

It came after Erdogan cut short a live TV interview during which he said he felt unwell.