Syria Election: Thousands Of People Vote Amid Civil War

On Tuesday, June 3, Syria has held a presidential election in government-held areas amid a three-year old civil war that activists say has killed more than 160,000 people and displaced millions more.

For the first time in five decades, the Assad family is facing sanctioned challengers. June 3, 2014

Voting has only taken place in government-held territory, as much of northern and eastern Syria is either under rebel control or in areas being fought over.

President Bashar al-Assad is widely expected to win a third seven-year term in office. To other two candidates are former minister Hassan al-Nouri and MP Maher Hajjar. However, neither of Assad's rivals enjoys much support.

"It's a tragic farce," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said. "The Syrians in a zone controlled by the Syrian government have a choice of Bashar or Bashar. This man has been described by the UN Secretary General as a criminal," he told France 2 television.

At the same time, this is the first time in more than 40 years that more than one name – just a member of the Assad family – has appeared on the ballot paper. The last seven presidential elections were referenda to approve Bashar or his father, Hafez al-Assad. Hafez never scored less than 99 percent, while his son got 97.6 percent seven years ago.

Supporters of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad wave the national flags and chant slogans in front of General Federation of Trade Unions building, during presidential election in Damascus June 3, 2014. Credit: REUTERS/ OMAR SANADIKI

According to Reuters, state television showed long queues of people waiting to vote at polling stations in areas under state control, as well as crowds waving flags and portraits of the president. Assad, looking relaxed and wearing a dark blue suit and light blue tie, voted at a central Damascus polling station with his wife Asma.

Syrian President Bashar Assad and his wife Asma cast their votes in the country's presidential elections at a polling station in Damascus, June 3, 2014. Credit: Reuters

Analysts say Syrian officials have gone to great lengths to present the vote as a way to resolve the crisis, the BBC reports.

In rebel-held areas, people have dismissed the elections as a sham. June 3, 2014

Rebel fighters, the political opposition in exile, Western powers and Gulf Arabs say no credible vote can be held in a country where swathes of territory are outside state control and millions have been displaced by conflict. Opposition fighters warned they would try to disrupt the vote.

Some refugees in Lebanon are crossing back over the border briefly to vote, June 3, 2014.

There are 15.8 million eligible voters, both inside and outside Syria, and about 9,600 polling stations have been set up around the country, the interior ministry said.

Women cast their votes in the country's presidential elections at a polling station in Aleppo June 3, 2014. CREDIT: REUTERS/GEORGE OURFALIAN

United States condemns election
"Today's presidential election in Syria is a disgrace," said State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf at a briefing in Washington. "Bashar al-Assad has no more credibility today than he did yesterday."
"Detached from reality and devoid of political participation, the Assad regime's staged election today continued a 40-year family legacy of violent suppression that brutally crushes political dissent and fails to fulfill Syrians' aspirations for peace and prosperity," Harf added.