Syria to hold presidential election on June 3

(Damascus) – Syria will hold presidential elections on June 3, the country’s parliament speaker announced, a vote President Bashar Al Assad is likely to contest as his nation sinks deeper into a bloody civil war, now in its fourth year.
Assad has been widely expected to seek another seven-year term in office despite the uprising against his rule. The conflict that has engulfed the nation since March 2011 has killed over 150,000 people and forced one-third of the country’s population from their homes.
Parliament Speaker Mohammed Laham said candidates seeking to run for president can register their candidacy from next Tuesday, April 22 until May 1.