Putin Sees a Chance for Assad to Stay in Power in Syria
- Putin told Kerry in Moscow there's no ban on Assad re-election
- U.S. counting on Syrian diaspora, UN to ensure ballot is fair
Putin Said to See Assad Extend Rule in 2017 Elections
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Bolstered by its military campaign in Syria, Russia is moving closer to securing a chance for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to extend his rule in 2017 elections as the U.S. steps up efforts to end almost five years of civil war.
Opposition in Washington is weakening against Russia’s insistence that Assad be allowed to compete in a presidential election after an 18-month transition period that starts next month, according to Russian and Western officials. For its part, Russia has agreed that the millions of Syrians who’ve fled their country can take part in the vote and is showing increasing flexibility on which Islamist rebel groups can join peace talks.