Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu returned the mandate to form a new government after possible coalition talks with two main parties had collapsed. Davutoglu officially acknowledged that he had been unable to form a government after failing to find a junior coalition partner for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

It was not known if Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who reportedly might favor new elections, would give another party leader the chance to try to form a new government. According to the constitution, the AKP will be able to continue as a minority government until elections if a majority in parliament votes in favor of holding the early polls. If, however, Erdogan uses his right to call the elections himself. Until polls can take place, the country would be run by a so-called "election government" consisting of members from all four parties represented in parliament.

The deadline for a new government runs out at the end of the week. Erdogan is widely expected to call a new election and appoint an interim government.

A historic first

In a major setback for Erdogan, the AKP, which he founded, lost its overall majority in the June 7 polls for the first time since it came to power in 2002. Its current leader, Ahmet Davutoglu, held coalition talks with the second-placed Republican People's Party (CHP) and third-placed Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) but failed to broker a deal with either.

It would be the first time in Turkey's political history that the largest party in power would have failed to form a coalition.

Polls amid 'IS' and PKK airstrikes

The timing of the political drama comes amid an unprecedented "anti-terror" offensive by the Turkish government against "Islamic State" jihadists and Kurdish PKK militants. Ankara has denied that this was launched in the hope of providing a boost at the ballot box.

But some analysts suggested that Erdogan had wanted to see a re-run of the election so that the AKP could regain an overall majority and realize his dream of creating a presidential system in Turkey.

The elections should be held 90 days after they are called, meaning that Sunday, November 22 would be a possibility if Erdogan were to call the polls shortly after the expiration of the August 23 deadline. This would mean that the polls could be held in the wake of Turkey hosting the G20 leaders' summit in Antalya from November 15 - 16.

ss/kms (AP, AFP, Reuters)