|
Syria to 'vote' today
Despite the bloodshed, Syrian President Bashir Assad is staging a referendum on Sunday on a new constitution which he says will pave the way for a multiparty parliamentary election within three months.The opposition has called for a boycott of the vote, deriding Assad's reform pledges and demanding he step down. Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu questioned how the vote could take place in the midst of so much violence. "On one hand you say you are holding a referendum and on the other you are attacking with tank fire on civilian areas. You still think the people will go to a referendum the next day in the same city?" he asked, at a news conference in Istanbul. Davutoglu, whose country has turned strongly against its former friend since the Syrian revolt began in March, said Syria should accept an Arab League plan that calls on Assad to quit. Posted by: Steve White 2012-02-26 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=339741 |