×

Our award-winning reporting has moved

Context provides news and analysis on three of the world’s most critical issues:

climate change, the impact of technology on society, and inclusive economies.

Hezbollah says Syria vote means foes can't demand Assad quit

by Reuters
Friday, 6 June 2014 17:34 GMT

BEIRUT, June 6 (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's landslide election victory means that his civil war foes can no longer call for his departure as a precondition for peace, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday.

The leader of the Lebanese group that has sent fighters to back the president, described the vote as a victory for Syria. Assad's foes called the election a charade.

"This election tells the opposition and all regional countries and the world that any political solution in Syria begins and ends with President Bashar al-Assad," Nasrallah told supporters via a video link.

"You can no longer put the resignation of the president as a pre-condition."

Assad is struggling to end a more than three-year revolt which started as peaceful anti-government demonstrations that descended into civil war.

Assad's opponents say his resignation is a precondition for any future peace agreement. (Reporting by Laila Bassam; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

-->