US doubts Syria's elections will be free and fair
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON, March 8 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday voiced strong skepticism that Syria's parliamentary elections next month would be free and fair and urged President Bashar al-Assad to move his country "from authoritarian rule." "Sadly history does not lead us to the conclusion that we can expect free and fair elections at the parliamentary level," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. He told reporters Assad had promised to enact political reforms when he succeeded his late father, Hafez al-Assad, in 2000, but "sadly we have not seen that." Later, the State Department released a statement voicing deep concern that the Syrian regime would "again fail its people" in parliamentary elections scheduled for April 22. "We hope every Syrian's voice can be heard without intimidation -- and we hope President Assad will listen," said the statement. The Baath Party has ruled Syria since 1963 and dominates the 250-seat parliament, which is elected every four years but has little influence in making policy. "To help move Syria from authoritarian rule, President Assad should enable full media coverage and invite independent election monitors to report the real views of the Syrian people," said the State Department. Assad is expected to win easily a referendum to appoint him to a second seven-year term due to be held before mid-July. Relations are tense between Syria and the United States, which withdrew its ambassador from Damascus in 2005 after the Feb. 14, 2005, killing in Beirut of former Lebanese premier Rafik al-Hariri. A U.N. inquiry has implicated senior Syrian officials and their Lebanese allies in the murder but Syria has repeatedly denied a role in the assassination. The United States has also accused Syria of meddling in Iraq and U.S. and Syrian officials are expected to join others in Baghdad this weekend to discuss how to end the violence in Iraq. Separately, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Ellen Sauerbrey left Washington on Thursday for talks in Syria about the estimated 2 million Iraqis who have fled the country since the March 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
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