Zohbi said on Tuesday that it is “the president’s right to take a decision” on whether to run for the 2014 presidential vote.

“All the people call for President Bashar al-Assad to be president of this state, whatever the opposition, the Americans and the traitors say,” the minister said.
“Syria is staying put: the state, the nation, the people and the president. This is the Syrians’ choice,” said the minister, stressing the country’s foreign-sponsored opposition coalition does not have the “courage” to contest the poll.

In May, President Assad said he would seek reelection if the Syrian people want him to contest the polls.

“If I feel there is any need for my candidacy, and that will be decided after consulting the people, I will not hesitate to stand,” said the Syrian leader.

The war in Syria started in March 2011, when pro-reform protests turned into a massive insurgency following intervention of western and regional states.

The foreign-backed Syrian opposition has been dismissing international efforts, mostly sponsored by Russia, to sit for talks to find a solution to the war that has already taken more than 100,000 lives.

They have been insisting that they will only take part in talks if there is a date set for Assad to leave office.

The opposition, however, has been suffering from deep divisions inside.

Their support to al-Qaeda-affiliated armed groups has also caused them to lose many of their supporters during the two and a half year war.

SHI/SHI