Deputy FM: Syrians Voted “No to Terrorism”

 “Syrians voted no to terrorism and yes to democracy in the presidential election in that country,” Amir Abdollahian said late Thursday.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister expressed the hope that under President Assad’s leadership, the Syrian people “will continue to resist foreign-backed terrorists and safeguard the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of the prominent country of the axis of resistance.”

Amir Abdollahian also called on the Syrian opposition groups to distance themselves from Takfiri and terrorist groups and take part in the country’s national reconciliation and political process.

On Wednesday, The Syrian People’s Assembly speaker Mohammad Jihad al-Laham announced that the president Assad won 88.7 percent of the vote.

The country’s Supreme Constitutional Court also announced that 73.42% of the 15.8 million eligible voters had taken part in the election.

Following the announcement, crowds took to the streets throughout the country to celebrate the victory of the incumbent president.

Also on Wednesday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry, in a statement, praised the Syrian nation’s massive participation in the presidential election, and called on the world states and international bodies to respect the results of the Tuesday election.

The statement praised the high turnout in the polls as a “big achievement”, saying the Syrian government made good preparations for holding the June 3 election despite difficulties caused by certain foreign sides.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy that has reportedly killed over 160,000 people since it erupted in March 2011.