A picture of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is seen at a shop in Damascus

A picture of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is seen at a shop in Damascus April 28, 2014. Assad has formally submitted his nomination to seek a third term in office in an election due to be held in early June, the speaker of parliament said on Monday. The announcement was made in parliament by speaker Mohammad al-Laham, who read out Assad’s submission. « I…Dr Bashar Hafez al Assad…wish to nominate myself for the post of president of the republic, hoping that parliament will endorse it, » it said. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA – Tags: POLITICS CONFLICT CIVIL UNREST ELECTIONS)