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AMMAN A “sham” election designed to prolong President Bashar al-Assad’s grip on Syria shows that only international pressure for a U.N.-backed peace plan can…
By Syndicated Content
By Suleiman Al-Khalidi
AMMAN (Reuters) â A âshamâ election designed to prolong President Bashar al-Assadâs grip on Syria shows that only international pressure for a U.N.-backed peace plan can pave the way for democratic rule, a Damascus-based secular opposition leader said.
Lawyer Hassan Abdul Azim of the National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change added that Wednesdayâs vote would only worsen the plight of a country afflicted by hunger, poverty and an âauthoritarian regimeâ.
âThis insistence on clinging to power does not bring stability,â Abdul Azim told Reuters in a phone interview, referring to acute fuel and food shortages and sky-rocketing inflation that has pushed most Syrians deeper into poverty.