Assad seeks re-election as Syrian civil war rages

By Dominic Evans

BEIRUT Mon Apr 28, 2014 12:39pm EDT

1 regarding 3. a picture involving Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sometimes appears in a shop throughout Damascus April 28, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Khaled al-Hariri

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad declared about Monday he'd seek re-election inside June, defying calls via his opponents for you to step aside and permit a political solution to the country's devastating civil war.

Assad formally submitted his nomination to Syria's constitutional court to square inside an election which usually his Western and also Arab foes get dismissed as being a parody regarding democracy.

He will always be the seventh individual to place himself forward regarding Syria's 1st multicandidate presidential vote within decades, but none associated with his rivals are expected to always be able to mount a new significant challenge to be able to 44 numerous many years of Assad loved ones rule.

The announcement relevant resource site had been made in parliament by simply speaker Mohammad al-Laham, that read out Assad's submission. "I ... Dr Bashar Hafez al Assad ... wish to nominate myself for the submit of president of the republic, hoping which parliament will endorse it," it said.

State media stated crowds gathered to always be able to celebrate the particular coming election and latest military gains through Assad's forces who, supported by simply foreign allies, have got turned the tide of your war that 1 . 5 years ago challenged his treating Damascus.

"As quickly even as heard that the president announced his candidacy we came down to the streets to be able to celebrate because we just cannot go to end up being able to whichever long term Syria without having his excellency President Bashar al-Assad," stated Khadija Hashma, among with regards to one hundred individuals demonstrating within the central Damascus district regarding Mezzeh.

In a statement minutes following his candidacy has been announced, Assad appealed regarding restraint and stated virtually any "demonstration of joy" ought in order to be responsible, urging individuals to not fire celebratory shots inside the air.

ELECTION "ILLEGITIMATE"

Syria's opposition leaders within exile, barred from standing by a constitutional clause requiring candidates to have lived throughout Syria continuously with regard to 10 years, dismissed the particular vote as becoming a charade.

The constitution also says candidates must hold the backing associated with 35 members in the proAssad parliament, effectively ruling out dissenting voices from your campaign.

The National Coalition, Syria's major opposition umbrella group inside exile, stated Assad's determination for you to win yet another term inside office showed he was not interested inside a negotiated settlement to the conflict.

"From the beginning this regime will be illegitimate, and so is action," stated Hadi al Bahra, the member of your coalition's political committee. "This has absolutely no value, yet says the regime just isn't significant in regards to become able to a political solution."

Authorities have not really mentioned how they'll support the vote in the nation exactly where six million people happen to always be able to be displaced and significant swathes of territory remain outside government control.

Another 2.5 million refugees have got fled Syria, many smuggling themselves over the frontier to end up being able to avoid Assad's security forces. Election commission head Hisham al-Shaar had been quoted through Syria's Al-Watan newspaper about Monday as saying Syrians which had left the nation illegally would not end up being qualified for you to vote.

More compared to 150,000 people have been killed within Syria's conflict, which in turn began when protests against Assad's rule erupted in March 2011, inspired by some other Arab uprisings.

Demonstrations were deposit by simply force and additionally the uprising became an armed insurgency that now pits mainly Sunni Muslim rebels and foreign jihadis against forces loyal in order to Assad, who is from Syria's Alawite minority - an offshoot involving Shi'ite Islam.

The president continues to end up being able to be backed by simply Iran and Russia and his soldiers happen for you to be reinforced simply by Shi'ite fighters through Iraq and also Lebanon's militant team Hezbollah, although regional Sunni Muslim powers have got backed your rebels.

TURNING POINT?

Assad's forces get consolidated their particular grip around Damascus and central Syria, and also hold the Alawite heartland provinces around the Mediterranean coast. Rebels control a lot in the north along with east, nevertheless are already plagued simply by infighting.

Two weeks ago Assad stated the particular Syrian conflict had reached any turning point and furthermore the deputy leader of Hezbollah said it absolutely was moment Assad's Western foes accepted he had been there in order to stay, adding that Assad would acquire re-election decisively.

Peace talks throughout Geneva brokered through international mediator Lakhdar Brahimi, who's widely expected to become able to announce his resignation soon, broke down inside February.

Brahimi has warned that will holding the actual presidential election in June 3 would present a level higher challenge for you to reviving negotiations that have been supposed to incorporate dialogue of a transitional governing physique in Syria including both opposition as well as government representatives.

Bahra mentioned Assad's campaign for any third term within workplace contravened an accord, referred to as Geneva 1, agreed simply by international powers inside Switzerland 2 years back that was supposed to form the cornerstone for your read this post here peace talks.

"He is within defiance of U.N. Safety Council this hyperlink resolutions as well as outside involving the Geneva one process," Bahra said.

(Additional reporting by Dasha Afanasieva in Istanbul; Editing through Andrew Roche)

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