Syrians in Turkey decry Assad's presidency bid


ANKARA — Syrian refugees in Turkey have reacted strongly to Syrian President Bashar Assad's candidacy for the June 3 presidential election.Syrians who live in Akcakale district of Sanliurfa province in southeastern Turkey, on Friday described Assad's running for president as "terrifying."Syrian refugee Valed Baktash told Anadolu Agency, "Assad and his father have oppressed their own people for 43 years. We could not talk about a fair election in a situation where more than two million Syrians are now registered as refugees in other countries."The Supreme Constitutional Court in Syria narrowed down the challengers in the poll to two members from approved opposition groups, including Hassan Abdullah Nouri, a former Syrian member of parliament, and Maher Abdul-Hafiz Hajjar, a former Communist Party activist and current Syrian member of parliament. Assad is overwhelmingly expected to win.