Syrians stream to embassies to vote

http://sana.sy/

Of the estimated three million Syrians living abroad, including both refugees and peacetime residents, only around 200,000 were entitled to vote on Wednesday, in 39 embassies abroad, a foreign ministry source said in Damascus. "It's a relatively acceptable figure, if we bear in mind the fact that France, Germany and Belgium have banned Syrian citizens" from voting, along with the United Arab Emirates, said Al-Watan, a pro-regime Damascus daily.

With a remarkably high turnout, Syrian citizens abroad are casting ballots on Wednesday at the Syrian embassies in several capitals worldwide to choose one out of three candiates as a president for their country.

Due to the high turnout, the Higher Judicial Committee for Elections extended voting time in all Syrian Embassies where elections are held by five hours May 28th. Since 7 am according to Moscow's local time, the Syrian citizens in Russia headed to their country's Embassy for choosing a president who they deem competent and capable of fulfilling their national aspirations.

Two rooms were prepared in the Embassy for citizens to elect secretly and in a democratic atmosphere. A number of the Syrians voted in blood to express their farthermost support to the Syrian state and army, adding that voting is the least to do in defense of the country.

They highlighted that voting proves that the Syrian people, leadership and army are united in the face of aggressions and terrorism. The participants in China expressed pride that the Syrian citizens all over the world are participating in building the future of their country through practicing their right and duty of choosing a president to Syria. At 7 am according to the local time of Beijing, the Syrian Ambassador and Embassy personnel received the citizens coming from all over the Chinese cities. Syria's Ambassador in China Imad Mustafa said the Syrians in China are enthusiastic over the elections as they are the first community to vote due to time zone differences. Mustafa said that holding the elections is a victory in and of itself, adding that who wins the elections is not important because what really matters is that the Syrian state is present and adherent to the new constitution and will never permit a constitutional vacuum. Syrian citizens who live in Japan flocked to the Syrian Embassy in Tokyo to elect their President, voicing determination to support their country and preserve its unity and strengthen. A huge turnout of voters is witnessed in Lebanon's capital of Beirut, where huge crowds of Syrian citizens have gone to the Syrian Embassy since early hours this morning to practice their right and duty in choosing a president for their country.

Syria's Ambassador in Beirut Ali Abdulkarim told journalists that the turnout is high, as the number of voters is expected to hit tens of thousands, adding that those who could not vote today have another opportunity on 3rd of June to vote in the border cross points centers.

Abdulkarim said that the participation in the elections is a direct response to those who bet on disrupting the elections process, as it also indicates that the Syrian people believe in their country, its dignity and sovereignty. Later, Abdulkarim said that the Embassy will remain open for voting on Thursday as to allow as many citizens as possible to vote. Later, Ali Abdul-Kareem Ali said the Syrians' turnout cast votes for to the presidential elections at the Embassy in Beirut is considered as a victory over the conspiracy and a failure to the US-Israeli project aiming at destroying Syria. "This huge gathering is an expression that the Syrians are proud of their Army and its achievements as well as it is a reflection on the Syrian people's support to their wise leadership," Abdul-Kareem told Al-Manar TV in an interview.