* Assad's international opponents have de**unced election * First candidate is from government-sanctioned opposition * Assad expected to run, win June 3 poll * election called after military gains By Alexander Dziadosz BEIRUT, April 23 (Reuters) - A Syrian lawmaker has **minated himself for president, state media said on Wednesday, the First candidate in an election likely to cement President Bashar al-Assad's rule over a country devastated by civil war. Assad has yet to formally declare his candidacy but his allies have voiced increasing confidence that he will run and win, after government forces scored several victories against rebels around Damascus and along the Lebanese border. State media said Maher Abdel-Hafiz Hajjar - a member of the government-sanctioned opposition, as opposed to Western-backed opposition politicians in exile or the armed rebels Assad de**unces as "terrorists" - had **minated himself. The Supreme Constitutional Court is accepting **minations until May 1.
04-25-2014, 03:24 AM
First candidate for Syria's presidential election steps forward
العرض العادي
