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Syria

Three dead as supporters celebrate Assad election win

At least three people are dead and others were wounded as a result of celebratory gunfire, as it was announced Assad won with a sweeping 88.7 per cent.

SYRIA’S PRESIDENT BASHAR al-Assad has won a controversial election held in regime-controlled territory with a sweeping 88.7 percent of the vote, parliament speaker Mohammad al-Lahham announced this evening.

The other two candidates won 4.3 percent and 3.2 percent of the votes respectively in the poll dismissed as a “farce” by the main opposition and the West.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said celebratory shots fired by supporters of the president killed at least three people in Damascus.

“At least three people were killed and dozens more wounded as a result of celebratory gunfire shot by Assad supporters,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the group said.

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