Hamouda Sabbagh, President of the Syrian People's Assembly (Parliament), officially announced the launch of the country's presidential elections and called for candidates to present their papers, as scheduled.

Dabag called on those who wish to run for President to apply for the Supreme Constitutional Court within 10 days, beginning on Monday, April 19, and ending on Wednesday, April 28.

During the presidency of a special meeting of the Council this afternoon, Dabbag invited Syrians at home and abroad to participate in the presidential elections, and the election ballot for Syrians abroad was scheduled for Thursday, 20 May.

The polling date for Syrians residing in Syrian territory is on Wednesday, 26 May.

He described the Council's extraordinary meeting this afternoon as historic, said that Syria had not condoned or deferred any constitutional entitlement, and described the entitlement of the presidential election as the most important.

He called for the broadest participation of Syrians abroad and added that the Council would exercise its constitutional duty, with integrity, before the candidates.