Iran Says Syria's Election could Bring Peace

Iran on Tuesday defended Syria's June presidential election, saying the vote could end the three-year-old civil war ravaging its close ally.

The response came as President Bashar Assad registered to stand in the June 3 vote, which is widely expected to return him to office despite the grinding conflict.

Shiite Iran has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime in its battle against mostly Sunni rebels backed by Gulf Arab countries and some Western governments.

"We believe the presidential election will play an important role in establishing peace and stability in the country," foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham told reporters at her weekly briefing.

She called on the international community to "respect the inalienable rights of the Syrian people, so that the vote can bring an end to the country's crisis."

The election will be Syria's first multi-candidate presidential vote, after changes to the constitution, but it has been criticized by the opposition and much of the international community as a "farce."

Assad, who is expected to sail to victory against the six other candidates, became president on the death of his father Hafez in 2000.

The Syrian government has not spelled out how it will hold a credible election when large swathes of territory are beyond its control and half of the population have fled their homes, many of them abroad.

Tehran has been accused of supplying Damascus with military and financial backing but insists its support has been humanitarian.