A university has invalidated Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's diploma in a move widely perceived as politically motivated to block him from from running in the next presidential race.

Istanbul University said on Tuesday it annulled the diploma of Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival over irregularities, in a blow to the opposition days before it was set to pick him as its presidential candidate in the next elections.

The decision came days before the primary to be held on Sunday, when the Istanbul mayor was highly likely to be chosen as the presidential candidate of Turkey's main opposition party.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is working to secure a meeting with Donald Trump at the White House, possibly toward the end of April, according to Turkish officials familiar with the matter.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is working to secure a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, potentially by late April, Bloomberg News said on Tuesday, citing Turkish officials familiar with the matter.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is actively seeking a White House meeting with US President Donald Trump, potentially by late April, according to a Bloomberg News report citing Turkish officials familiar with the discussions. For more stories from The Media Line go to themedialine.org Neither Erdogan’s office nor the White House responded to requests for comment on Tuesday.Erdogan views closer ties with Washington as essential to stabilizing the region, particularly as Turkey seeks a more prominent role in mediating conflicts from Ukraine to Syria.Relations between the two NATO allies have often been strained, notably over the US partnership with a Syrian Kurdish militia that Ankara classifies as a terrorist organization.Bilateral tensions also flared in 2019 when Turkey purchased Russian S-400 missile defense systems, prompting US sanctions and Ankara’s subsequent removal from the F-35 fighter jet program.Russia, Ukraine, and Syria discussedOn Sunday, Erdogan spoke with Trump by phone to discuss diplomatic efforts aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine and restoring stability in Syria.According to a statement from Erdogan’s office, the Turkish leader commended Trump’s “decisive and direct initiatives” and reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to achieving a “just and lasting peace.”