MOSCOW, April 28 (RIA Novosti) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has indicated he will run for re-election, the local news agency SANA reported Monday citing Speaker of the People's Assembly Mohammad Jihad al-Laham.
“The Assembly received a notification from the Supreme Constitutional Court stating that Bashar Hafez al-Assad has submitted a candidacy application to the Court,” the agency reported citing the speaker.
Presidential elections in Syria are to be held on June 3.
The registration of candidates began last Monday. For the first time in the history of the country, multiple candidates will be able to register and run in the election.
President Bashar al-Assad was elected in May 2007 after receiving 97.62 percent of the vote. Last April, Assad told media that he was ready to step down if Syrians voted for that outcome.
The civil war in Syria broke out following unrest that swept the Arab world three years ago, known as the Arab Spring. Armed opposition groups linked to al-Qaeda have called for the ouster of President al-Assad.
Moscow has repeatedly condemned the rise of terrorism in Syria and has urged the international community to take steps toward the peaceful settlement of the conflict, including holding democratic presidential elections.
