Analysts say a convergence of international factors gave Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the opportunity to try to neutralize Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the main threat to him in elections due to be held in 2028.

It was around six years ago, when newcomer Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu called election board officials "idiots" for cancelling his initial victory at the polls, that President Tayyip Erdogan noticed him as a serious political threat.

A Turkish court jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Sunday pending trial, CNN affiliate CNN Turk reported, as mass protests have broken out across the country against his detention over allegations of corruption and terrorism ties.