Turkish referendum: "Yes" lead narrows to 52.8 pct with 90 percent of ballots opened - Anadolu

Election officials carry bags full of ballots following a voting procedure for a referendum in the Kurdish-dominated southeastern city of Diyarbakir, Turkey, April 16, 2017. REUTERS/Sertac Kayar

ANKARA (Reuters) - Votes in favour of Turkish constitutional changes that could give President Tayyip Erdogan sweeping new powers stood at 52.8 percent with around 90 percent of ballots opened, the state-run Anadolu news agency said on Sunday. Votes against the changes have been rising, taking the lead in Istanbul, Turkey's biggest city, with 88 percent of ballot boxes opened, data from Anadolu showed. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay; Editing by Nick Tattersall)