Assad's decision to re-run for presidency farce

A senior aide to the main Syrian opposition coalition has sharply denounced the move by Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad to run again in next month's presidential election. Rim Allaf, Advisor to the president of the national coalition of the Syrian opposition, Ahmad Jarba, described this evening Al-Assad's decision as a "farce." She told a meeting at Chatham House, the Royal institute of international affairs, that this move is "a slap in the face of the international community." Allaf refuted the claims that the Syrian president is winning the war against his own people who are opposing his regime. She equally indicated that many parts of Syria are not under his control, including parts of the capital Damascus. The senior advisor insisted that the only solution to the "huge tragedy" in Syria is through a political process that would lead to the end the 42-year reign of the Baath regime. In the meantime, she made it clear that the opposition has no alternative but to continue its fight against the regime until it is overthrown. Allaf estimated that around 200,000 people have lost their lives during the three-year conflict and more than seven million Syrians are either displaced from their homes or have become refugees in neighbouring countries. She blamed in particular Russia, China, Iran and Hezbollah for propping up the regime militarily against the legitimate aspiration of the Syrian people for freedom. In addition, Allaf was critical of the "inaction" of the international community in the face of the catastrophe which has ravaged Syria as a result of the regime's "killing machine" against its own people