Syria slams EU criticism of presidential election

The Syrian government today condemned the European Union's criticism of its presidential election, branding it a "violation" of national sovereignty.
The EU has described Tuesday's poll, which saw President Bashar al-Assad secure nearly 90 per cent of the vote, as "illegitimate".
The comments amounted to "a flagrant violation of international law, which stipulates respect of the sovereignty of states and non-interference in their affairs," the foreign ministry said.
"The EU's position is contrary to basic principles of democracy and respect for the right of peoples to elect their leaders and decide their future at the ballot box," it added.
Assad was elected to a new seven-year term in an election that he was widely expected to win and declared a "farce" by the Western-backed opposition.

Voting took place only in government-controlled areas and came despite three years of a brutal civil conflict which has killed more than 162,000 people.
Assad's backers, including Russia and Iran, praised the vote and insisted that it showed popular support for the president.