Western and Arab states call election "parody of democracy"; elections to take place June 3; handful of other candidates not expected to win.
By REUTERS
Syrian President Bashar Assad declared on Monday he will run for re-election in a vote on June 3 which is widely expected to secure him a third term in office despite a three-year civil war stemming from protests against his rule.Parliament Speaker Mohammad al-Laham made the announcement during a televised session of Syria's parliament.Assad's Western and Arab foes have condemned the election as a parody of democracy, saying no credible poll can be held in a country where 6 million people have been displaced, 2.5 million have fled as refugees and hundreds are killed daily.Assad's letter to Syria's constitutional court, read out in parliament by Laham, said: "I ... Dr Bashar Hafez al Assad ... wish to nominate myself for the post of president of the republic, hoping that parliament will endorse it."A handful of other candidates have put themselves forward to run in the election but Syria's opposition leaders in exile, who are barred from standing, have dismissed the vote as a charade to extend four decades of Assad family rule in Syria.Syria's constitution says presidential candidates must win the backing of 35 members of the pro-Assad parliament, and cannot have lived outside the country in the last 10 years.
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