A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Aug 12, 2020 shows Syrian President Bashar al-Assad addressing members of the People's Assembly in Damascus. (SANA / AFP)

DAMASCUS - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday applied to run in the Syrian presidential election slated for May, according to the state news agency SANA.

Hamoudeh al-Sabbagh, the Syrian parliament speaker, said that so far, six people, including a woman, have applied to take part in the presidential race, and more people are expected to apply in the coming days.

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The election campaign started on April 19 and will last for 10 days. 

The election will be held on May 26, while Syrians abroad will cast their votes on May 20.

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