Syria’s Assad wins third term in office with 89% landslide

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been re-elected in a landslide yesterday, capturing another seven-year term in the middle of a bloody three-year-old uprising against his rule that has devastated the country.

Syria’s parliament speaker, Jihad Lahan, announced the final results from Tuesday’s election, saying Assad garnered 10,319,723 votes, or 88.7%. Laham said Assad’s two challengers, Hassan al-Nouri and Maher Hajjar, won 4.3% and 3.2% respectively. The Supreme Constitutional Court put turnout at 73.42%.

After the results were released, Damascus erupted into a thunderous rolling clap of celebratory gunfire that appeared to include heavy weaponry. On the streets of the capital, men cheered and whistled. Some broke into the familiar pro-Assad chant: “With our souls, with our blood, we sacrifice for you, Bashar!”