Syria presidential elections - transparent or a whitewash?

This week Bashar al-Assad won re-election as the Syrian president.

The Syrian Arab news Agency praised the transparency of the elections in a number of articles.

but the Organisation For Democracy and Freedom in Syria called it a farce.

and the Washington Post a symbol of Assad's control

other useful sources for news coverage of the elections include:

BBC News.

Huffington Post.

Al-Monitor

and IFES has a background guide to the electoral system and previous results.

Assessments of the state of human rights and democracy in Syria.

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic United Nations reports.

Freedom House.

Open democracy net.has some discussion from bloggers prior to the elections

Amnesty International  This is also supporting the Eyes on Syria website which is mapping and monitoring human rights abuses.

Human Rights Watch

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.  has news and reports of violations in the area.

 Washington Institute assessments.

Carnegie  Endowment 

Rand. 

Brookings Institution.

Finally try searching the great ISN website for links to publications and blog postings coverign Syria and international security.