REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DAMASCUS - Syrians voted on Tuesday in an election expected to deliver an overwhelming victory for President Bashar al-Assad in the midst of a devastating civil war but which his opponents have dismissed as a charade.

Opposition group, the political opposition in exile, Western powers and Gulf Arabs say no credible vote can be held in a country where swathes of territory are outside state control and millions of people have been displaced in the conflict, which grew from protests against Assad's rule. Insurgents battling to overthrow Assad stepped up attacks in government-controlled areas in the buildup to the election, seeking to disrupt the vote.

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (12.00 am ET) in parts of Syria where Assad continues to rule. State television showed thousands of people queuing to vote, as well as crowds waving Syrian flags and portraits of the 48-year-old leader.

"We hope for security and stability," said Hussam al-Din al Aws, an Arabic teacher who was the first person to vote at a polling station at a Damascus secondary school. Asked who would win, he responded: "God willing, President Bashar al-Assad."

Assad is running against two relatively unknown challengers who were approved by a parliament packed with his supporters, the first time in half a century that Syrians have been offered any choice of candidates. The last seven presidential votes were referenda to approve Bashar or his father, Hafez al-Assad. Hafez never scored less than 99 percent, while his son got 97.6 percent seven years ago.

Neither of Assad's rivals, former minister Hassan al-Nouri or parliamentarian Maher Hajjar, is expected to make major inroads into those levels of support.

"It's a tragic farce," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said. "The Syrians in a zone controlled by the Syrian government have a choice of Bashar or Bashar. This man has been described by the UN Secretary General as a criminal," he told France 2 television.

Syrian officials confidently predicted a big turnout and said that a high level of participation would be as significant as the result itself.

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