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April 22, 2014

U.N. Warns Assad Against New Elections 
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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has announced new elections for early
June. Assad will seek another seven-year term as his country remains
mired in a three-year civil war that has killed tens of thousands. A
spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the election
will undermine efforts for a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

Stéphane Dujarric: "I think both the secretary-general and the joint
special representative, Lakhdar Brahimi, have repeatedly warned that the
holding of elections in the current circumstances amid the ongoing
conflict and massive displacement will damage the political process and
hamper — and hamper the prospects for a political solution that
the country so urgently needs. Such elections are incompatible with the
letter and spirit of the Geneva communiqué."

 

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