World

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad wins third term

June 4, 2014 6:38 pm

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has won a third term in office after securing 88.7% of votes in Tuesday’s presidential election, the parliamentary speaker says.

Earlier, Syria’s constitutional court put the vote turnout at 73.47%.

Voting took place in government-controlled areas, but not in parts of the north and east held by rebels.

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Tens of thousands of Syrians have died in three years of civil war in Syria, with millions more displaced.

President Assad’s key challengers, Hassan al-Nouri and Maher Hajjar, received 4.3% and 3.2% of the vote respectively.

It was the first time in decades that more than one name – outside of the Assad family – had been allowed to stand as presidential candidate.

But the Syrian opposition in rebel-held areas had dismissed the election as a farce, arguing that it has no credibility in the midst of a civil war.

The results of the election were announced by parliamentary speaker Mohammad al-Laham on Wednesday.