Syria holds presidential election dismissed as farce by opposition

A presidential election is taking place in government-held parts of Syria, with Bashar al-Assad seen as certain to win a fourth seven-year term.

Mr Assad is facing two little-known challengers, Abdullah Salloum Abdullah and Mahmoud Ahmed Mari.

The poll has been dismissed as a farce by the war-torn country's opposition, while the US and European powers have said it is neither free nor fair.

As he cast his ballot Mr Assad said the opinion of the West counted for "zero".

Syria has been devastated by a conflict that erupted after Mr Assad's government responded with deadly force to peaceful pro-democracy protests in March 2011.

The fighting has left at least 388,000 people dead and caused half the population to flee their homes, including almost six million refugees abroad.