Syria Holds 2nd Presidential Election Since Conflict Began in 2011

CAIRO - Syria held its second presidential election Wednesday since civil war broke out in 2011, despite accusations from around the world the polling is not free and fair. Two candidates are vying with veteran President Bashar al-Assad, who came to office in 2000, following the death of his father, longtime ruler Hafez al-Assad.

Syrian state TV spoke with correspondents across the country Wednesday, showing at least a dozen polling stations on its screen throughout the day. Syrians in most regions of the country, except the Kurdish-controlled north and Turkish-controlled enclaves along the border, were eligible to vote. President Bashar al-Assad and his wife, Asmaa, were shown on state TV voting in a Damascus suburb. Assad denounced western criticism about the election being free and fair. He says that as a nation, Syria gives no credence to what (the Western states) are saying, but rather the most important thing is what the people say. The popular demonstrations in recent weeks were a sufficient and clear enough response to tell those countries that their comments are null and void.