Syrian president set to announce multi-candidate polls
13:10 20/07/2011 MOSCOW, July 20 (RIA Novosti) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is ready to announce new changes in election legislation that would allow multiple candidates to run for president for the first time since 1963, a Lebanese paper said on Wednesday.
In an upcoming televised address to the nation, the fourth since the popular uprising began in Syria four months ago, Assad is expected to propose scrapping Article 8 of the Constitution which stipulates that the ruling Baas party is the sole ruling authority in the country, the Al Dyiar paper said, citing sources close to Assad.
The move will allow candidates from opposition parties to run for president as opposed to the current practice of having only a candidate from the Baas party, namely Assad, on the voting ballot.
In his previous addresses, Assad has already called for a number of democratic reforms and dialogue with opposition to stabilize the situation in the country which was swept by waves of protests demanding Assad's resignation.
Human rights groups say more than 1,350 protestors have been killed by security forces since the uprising began in March. Official reports, which blame "armed terrorists" for the violence, put the death toll at 340 police and servicemen.
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