Syrians abroad begin casting votes in presidential election
- 10 years ago
Syrians in Lebanon are starting to vote.
This polling site looks more like a rock show and President Bashar al-Assad is the headliner.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN MAN FROM ALEPPO, HAROUT, SAYING:
"He is the president. Whatever they do, they cannot defeat him because he is God, Syria and Bashar."
Worldwide voting began Wednesday in an election that looks certain to give Assad a third seven-year term as president.
Now Syrians are pouring into embassies abroad ahead of the June 3 vote that opponents have dismissed as a farce.
The country is embroiled in its fourth year of fighting.
In Jordan, another pro-Assad group gathered for the vote.
At least 600,000 registered Syrian refugees and at least 1.3 milllion Syrian altogether live in the country.
One Syrian voter hopes the election will improve the situation.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN LIVING IN JORDAN, NUHA DERAZINI, SAYING:
"As long as the elections are taking place under
This polling site looks more like a rock show and President Bashar al-Assad is the headliner.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN MAN FROM ALEPPO, HAROUT, SAYING:
"He is the president. Whatever they do, they cannot defeat him because he is God, Syria and Bashar."
Worldwide voting began Wednesday in an election that looks certain to give Assad a third seven-year term as president.
Now Syrians are pouring into embassies abroad ahead of the June 3 vote that opponents have dismissed as a farce.
The country is embroiled in its fourth year of fighting.
In Jordan, another pro-Assad group gathered for the vote.
At least 600,000 registered Syrian refugees and at least 1.3 milllion Syrian altogether live in the country.
One Syrian voter hopes the election will improve the situation.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN LIVING IN JORDAN, NUHA DERAZINI, SAYING:
"As long as the elections are taking place under