DAMASCUS: A top Syrian opposition figure on Tuesday slammed the upcoming presidential elections in the country as a blatant attempt by the incumbent regime to undermine the ongoing political process. He emphasised that "the illegal elections" that are due to be held on Wednesday will prolong the suffering of the Syrian people.

Hadi al-Bahra, co-chair of the opposition Syrian Constitutional Committee quoted, "These elections contradict what (the UN Security Council resolution setting out a political settlement in Syria) calls for, which is the holding of free and fair elections in accordance with a new constitution administered under UN supervision."  - “Currently there is no safe and neutral environment that enables all Syrians to exercise their right in casting their vote," the opposition figure added.

The Syrian Arab News quoted Interior Minister General Mohammed al-Rahmoun as saying that a total of 12,102 polling stations have been set up. He added that the number of the citizens who have the right to vote inside Syria and abroad is estimated at 18 million.

Syria's current president, Bashar al-Assad, 55, is expected to win a fourth seven-year term in office in Wednesday's vote that the opposition has dismissed as a sham. The Supreme Constitutional Court has approved three candidates to run in the presidential race, including al-Assad. The two others are Abdullah Salloum, a former government minister, and Mahmoud Marai, an opposition figure.

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