ANKARA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish Parliament convened on Friday to vote for the first round of presidential elections amid threat of an opposition boycott and procedural dispute.

    Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc opened the parliamentary session, saying that the quorum was secured.

    A total of 361 lawmakers, including 352 from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), attended the voting at the 550-seat parliament.

    Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, a close ally of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was nominated on Tuesday as AKP's candidate for the presidency.

    The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has decided to boycott the election and said it will apply to the Constitutional Court to cancel the election if a minimum of 367 lawmakers were not present the voting.But the ruling party insists only one-third of lawmakers are needed.

    Two center-right opposition parties, the Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) and the True Path Party (DYP), who control 24 seats, announced earlier in the day that they would not attend the voting.

    Earlier this week, the two parties called on the government for early elections so a "renewed parliament" can elect a new president.