Syria opposition head warns of ‘series of bombings’ during election

The head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition, Ahmed Jarba, on Monday accused President Bashar al-Assad’s regime of preparing a “series of bombings” to target voters and polling stations in the forthcoming presidential election, Al Arabiya News Channel reported.

Jarba, who in May visited Washington to enforce strategic ties between his coalition and the United States, warned that the Syrian regime is “coordinating with gangs, mercenaries and terrorists” to execute these operations.

“We urge Syrians to stay home and not to head to the shameful bloodbaths,” he said.

Last Wednesday, more than 95% of registered expat voters cast their ballots in 43 Syrian embassies, the state news agency SANA reported on Saturday.

The election is widely expected to give Assad a third seven-year term in office. He is running against two little-known candidates - lawmakers Maher Abdul-Hafiz Hajjar, 46, and Hassan bin Abdullah al-Nouri, 54.

Syrians living in government-controlled areas will vote on June 3. Swathes of the country are outside the regime's control.

Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Turkey who oppose the Assad regime have protested against the vote.