Iran, Russia, Venezuela praise Syria vote
Group of dignitaries from 30 countries allied with Assad blames US for 'crimes against the Syrian people' in 3-year war
DAMASCUS, Syria — A delegation of legislators and dignitaries from more than 30 countries, led by allies of Syrian President Bashar Assad, on Wednesday praised this week’s presidential elections in Syria, saying they pave the way for “stability and national agreement.”
The delegation, including members from Iran, Russia and Venezuela, toured polling stations on Tuesday during Syria’s first multicandidate presidential election in decades.
Assad is widely expected to win the vote that took place amid a civil war that activists say has killed more than 160,000 people.
In a final statement read Wednesday by Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of the Iranian parliament’s Committee on National Security, the group blamed the US and its allies for “crimes committed against the Syrian people.”
The United States and the European Union support the rebellion against Assad.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.