Syrians Start Voting in Presidential ReferendumSyrians began voting on Monday in a nationwide referendum to elect Bashar al-Assad president of the republic just one month after the death of his father Hafez al-Assad who ruled the country for the last three decades.Over 9 million eligible voters of Syria's total population of 17 million are expected to cast their ballots at 11,185 polling stations which opened at 7 a.m. (0400GMT). The voting, which will last for 12 hours, may be extended for three hours in case of a heavy turnout. Interior Minister Mohammad Harba is due to announce the referendum result on Tuesday when the 250-member People's Assembly (parliament) meets for a special session to approve the outcome of the vote. Within hours of his father's demise on June 10, the parliament amended the constitution to lower the age threshold for a president from 40 to 34. In the days that followed, Bashar, an eye doctor, was promoted from colonel to general and declared commander of the armed forces. On June 27, the parliament unanimously approved the ruling Baath Party's nomination of Bashar, 34, for the presidency and set July 10 as the date for the presidential referendum. |
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