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| Syrians vote in presidential election | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Voting is under way in Syria's presidential election amid heightened security. | |
| The poll takes place three years into a civil war in which tens of thousands of people have died and millions more are displaced. | The poll takes place three years into a civil war in which tens of thousands of people have died and millions more are displaced. |
| President Bashar al-Assad is widely expected to win a third seven-year term in office. | President Bashar al-Assad is widely expected to win a third seven-year term in office. |
| However, critics of the Syrian government have denounced the election as a sham. | However, critics of the Syrian government have denounced the election as a sham. |
| Analysts say Syrian officials have gone to great lengths to present the vote as a way to resolve the crisis. | Analysts say Syrian officials have gone to great lengths to present the vote as a way to resolve the crisis. |
| It is the first time in decades that more than one name has appeared on the ballot paper. | It is the first time in decades that more than one name has appeared on the ballot paper. |
| Correspondents say the other two candidates - Maher Hajjar and Hassan al-Nouri - are not widely known and have been unable to campaign on an equal footing with the president. | Correspondents say the other two candidates - Maher Hajjar and Hassan al-Nouri - are not widely known and have been unable to campaign on an equal footing with the president. |
| Previous presidential terms have been called through a referendum with just one member of the Assad family on the ballot paper. | Previous presidential terms have been called through a referendum with just one member of the Assad family on the ballot paper. |
| Campaigning officially ended on Monday and workers across central Damascus removed banners, posters and pictures of the candidates. | Campaigning officially ended on Monday and workers across central Damascus removed banners, posters and pictures of the candidates. |
| Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi said the election was a "historic day" for Syria and that a large turnout would "prove to the entire world that the Syrian people have decided and are determined to make the electoral process a success". | Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi said the election was a "historic day" for Syria and that a large turnout would "prove to the entire world that the Syrian people have decided and are determined to make the electoral process a success". |
| He urged Syrians to elect a president who would "achieve security and stability in the country... and step up the achievement of national reconciliation". | He urged Syrians to elect a president who would "achieve security and stability in the country... and step up the achievement of national reconciliation". |
| The interior ministry says 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 says 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. |
| However, voting will only take place in government-held territory, with many parts of the country either under rebel control or in areas being fought over. | However, voting will only take place in government-held territory, with many parts of the country either under rebel control or in areas being fought over. |
| Threat of disruption | Threat of disruption |
| Opposition fighters have warned they will try to disrupt the vote and the Syrian National Coalition - the main Western-backed opposition group - is boycotting it. | Opposition fighters have warned they will try to disrupt the vote and the Syrian National Coalition - the main Western-backed opposition group - is boycotting it. |
| Coalition leader Ahmad al-Jarba described the election as "theatre written with the blood of Syrians". | Coalition leader Ahmad al-Jarba described the election as "theatre written with the blood of Syrians". |
| He accused President Assad of planning to bomb and shell polling stations in order to blame the opposition. | He accused President Assad of planning to bomb and shell polling stations in order to blame the opposition. |
| The BBC's Jeremy Bowen in Damascus says the timing of the election reflects a new confidence in the Assad regime. | The BBC's Jeremy Bowen in Damascus says the timing of the election reflects a new confidence in the Assad regime. |
| Government forces have recently made significant military victories while some rebel groups have been fighting among themselves. | Government forces have recently made significant military victories while some rebel groups have been fighting among themselves. |
| Polling stations opened at 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT) and close 12 hours later, although officials said voting could be extended for five hours if there is a big turnout. |