Saudi Arabia irked by news of Syria holding presidential vote

Saudi Arabia irked by news of Syria holding presidential vote
Tue Apr 15, 2014 20:48:18

Saudi Arabia says presidential vote in Syria undermines efforts to ‘peacefully’ resolve a massive foreign-charged war in the country which Riyadh happens to be one of its biggest funders.

"The announcement by the Syrian government to hold elections is an escalation and undermines Arab and international efforts to peacefully resolve the crisis based on the (outcomes of) the Geneva I conference," Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said Tuesday.

The 2012 peace conference called for a transitional government ahead of free and fair elections.

With the opposition pushing for either continuation of the war which is killing people by the day or resignation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as the only solutions, the international talks have failed to put an end to the war.
Syrian daily Al-Watan reported Tuesday that parliament speaker Mohamed Jihad Lahham will next week announce the date of the country's presidential election, expected to be held around June.
According to reports Saudi Arabia has already spent billions of dollars to fund the war in Syria and overthrow the government.
Many Saudi militants have been killed in the war and many are still battling on the ground.
More than 150,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict broke out in March 2011.

string(1266) "[{"id":"1569148","sort":"3192291","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/02/24/alalam_635288418106610191_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Number of Saudi militants in Syria much higher than reported"} ,{"id":"1575986","sort":"3192292","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/03/15/alalam_635305053075418053_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Saudi crown prince urges more pressure on Syria"} ,{"id":"1576362","sort":"3192293","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/03/16/alalam_635306088711482166_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Iraq PM blasts Saudi role in prolonging Syria war"} ,{"id":"1577135","sort":"3192294","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/03/19/alalam_635308115253130387_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Saudi-Qatari rift spills over into Syria opposition"} ,{"id":"1578423","sort":"3192295","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/03/23/alalam_635311736924467773_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Syria to give UN 228 Saudi ID cards belonging to killed militants"} ,{"id":"1579594","sort":"3192296","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/03/27/alalam_635315194524336681_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Chechen terrorist, Saudi cleric on front lines in Syria"} ,{"id":"1583319","sort":"3192297","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/04/08/alalam_635325592469330593_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"‘Prince Bandar may retake Syria case as intelligence chief’"} ]"