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Election campaign begins in Syria

The campaign is involving three candidates: the present Head of State Bashar al-Assad and two members of opposition

© EPA/YOUSSEF BADAWI

BEIRUT, May 07, /ITAR-TASS/. An election campaign begins in the armed conflict-ridden Syria ahead of presidential polls scheduled for June 3.

The campaign is involving three candidates: the present Head of State Bashar al-Assad and two members of the so-called loyal opposition. Along with the Syrian leader, the Supreme Constitutional Court also registered Maher Abdel-Hafiz Hajar, 43, a Communist from Aleppo, a deputy from the bloc "The Popular Front for Change and Liberation" (PFCL), and Hassan Abdel Illahi an-Nuri, 54, a Liberal businessman, former Minister of State, who is now heading the National Initiative for Reforms.

Originally, 24 Syrian citizens, representing all sections of the people and religious confessions, had put forward their candidacies. However, only three contenders managed to win the necessary-for-registration backing of at least 35 members of the People's Council (parliament).

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Middle East and North Africa Syria

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