Iran’s Rouhani congratulates Syria’s Assad on vote

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has extended his congratulations to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad on his landslide victory in the Arab country’s June 3 presidential election.
The Iranian president sent a message to his Syrian counterpart on Sunday, saying successful holding of Syria’s presidential election indicated that the Syrian people are determined to be present in their country’s political arena and to decide their own fate.
“The results of this election show Syrian people’s trust and determination for moving toward stability, security and national solidarity,” Rouhani said.
He further termed the Syrian presidential vote as a “promising step toward democracy.”
The Iranian president expressed confidence that Syria will weather the crisis which has been imposed on it as the country moves toward peace and unity.
According to official figures released late on Wednesday, Assad won nearly 90 percent of the votes cast in Syria’s presidential race. Syria’s Supreme Constitutional Court also announced that over 73 percent of the 15.8 million eligible voters had taken part in the election.
Following the announcement, people took to the streets throughout the country in large numbers to celebrate Assad’s victory.
Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since March 2011. Over 160,000 people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced due to the violence fueled by the foreign-backed militants.