Bashar al-Assad was sworn in for a new seven-year term as President of Syria for the third time on Wednesday, media reports. "I pledge to respect the constitution and protect the people of Syria," he said during a live broadcast on Syrian television at a red carpet ceremony held at the presidential palace in Damascus.
The presidential election was held last month in areas of central and northern Syria that still remain under state control by approximately 88.7 percent. Assad defeated two other candidates that were seen by some as puppets rather than actual opponents.
