Syria Elections

President Hafez Assad, Syria's leader for 28 years, has been reelected to a fifth seven-year term after winning 99.98% of the vote in a national election, the interior minister said in Damascus. Assad's victory was a foregone conclusion, as there was no other candidate. Celebrations began as early as Jan. 14 when parliament, which is dominated by a pro-government coalition, nominated Assad. Interior Minister Mohammed Harba noted that 219 voters said "no."

Syria won a seat on the U.N. Security Council on Monday with overwhelming global support and no opposition from the United States, despite its prominent position on the U.S. list of nations sponsoring terrorism. Israel was the only nation to oppose Syria's bid for a two-year term on the powerful U.N. panel. It was joined by several Jewish organizations and 38 members of the U.S. Congress who wrote to President Bush on Friday urging that he oppose Syria's election.

A new People's Council or parliament will be elected Feb. 10 under a presidential decree issued Thursday night.

President Hafez Assad, Syria's leader for 28 years, has been reelected to a fifth seven-year term after winning 99.98% of the vote in a national election, the interior minister said in Damascus. Assad's victory was a foregone conclusion, as there was no other candidate. Celebrations began as early as Jan. 14 when parliament, which is dominated by a pro-government coalition, nominated Assad. Interior Minister Mohammed Harba noted that 219 voters said "no."

Syria won a seat on the U.N. Security Council on Monday with overwhelming global support and no opposition from the United States, despite its prominent position on the U.S. list of nations sponsoring terrorism. Israel was the only nation to oppose Syria's bid for a two-year term on the powerful U.N. panel. It was joined by several Jewish organizations and 38 members of the U.S. Congress who wrote to President Bush on Friday urging that he oppose Syria's election.

On the streets outside Jadat al Hashimi School, candidates in Syria's parliamentary elections Sunday advertised their campaigns with pictures and banner slogans. But the plethora of posters belied the lack of choice inside the voting booth. Syrian voters who came to cast their ballots had no meaningful alternative to the ruling party, which largely dictates who has a chance to be in the next parliament. "What's the point?"

DAMASCUS, Syria - Presidential elections will be held in Syria on June 3, the government announced Monday, even as a mortar barrage on the capital highlighted the relentless violence in the country. President Bashar Assad is expected to run and handily win a third seven-year term, though new laws mean he could face a challenger for the first time. Assad has yet to officially declare his candidacy. The United States and allies calling for Assad to step down denounced the planned balloting as “absurd” and a “parody of democracy,” in the words of a tweet from Edgar Vasquez, a State Department spokesman.

BEIRUT - Peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi made a new push Thursday to draw Syrian officials and rebels into negotiations, aiming to revive a plan for a transitional government and elections that faltered because of disagreements over the future of President Bashar Assad. The effort by the Algerian diplomat came after weeks of both sides in Syria being focused more on fighting. Rebels appear to be making gains, seizing military bases and fighting for control of suburbs around the capital, Damascus.

A new People's Council or parliament will be elected Feb. 10 under a presidential decree issued Thursday night.