Syria's Assad sworn in for second presidential term

Syrian president Bashar Assad was sworn in today for a second seven-year term in office.

The Syrian leader took the oath of office before the 250-seat People’s Assembly, or parliament, to a thunderous applause by Damascus politicians.

Mr Assad was re-elected on May 27 by 97.62% of the votes in a referendum boycotted by the opposition and dismissed by critics as a sham.

He was the only candidate in the “no” or “yes” vote.

Mr Assad, a British-educated ophthalmologist, came to power in 2000, succeeding his father, the late Hafez Assad.