Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cut off a live television interview on Tuesday before returning to apologize for having stomach flu.

The 69-year-old leader delivered three election speeches on Tuesday ahead of the presidential and legislative elections on May 14, the results of which appear inconclusive.

Erdogan was scheduled to end the evening with a direct joint interview with Ulke and Kanal 7. He started his television appearance after a delay of more than 90 minutes, and then cut it off after ten minutes when he was asked a question.

Erdogan returned 15 minutes later and apologized, saying he had fallen ill.

He explained, "Yesterday and today there was a lot of work. Because of that, I got stomach flu. For a moment, I wondered if I canceled the meeting, would it be misunderstood. But we had made a promise. I ask your forgiveness and your audience."

Erdogan's face looked tired and his eyes watered as he spoke. The Turkish leader then answered a few more questions before the meeting ended.
Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party have dominated Turkish politics for 20 years. But the current election campaign is one of the biggest challenges for the outgoing president, as opinion polls show that the competition will be intense between him and Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

"My best wishes to Mr. Erdogan," Kilicdaroglu wrote on Twitter moments after the meeting was broadcast.