Syrians vote in presidential election

Jeremy Bowen reports that the Assad regime seems more confident about winning the war

Voting is under way in Syria's presidential election amid heightened security.

The poll takes place three years into a civil war in which tens of thousands of people have died and millions more are displaced.

President Bashar al-Assad is widely expected to win a third seven-year term in office.

However, critics of the Syrian government have denounced the election as a sham.

Analysts say Syrian officials have gone to great lengths to present the vote as a way to resolve the crisis.

It is the first time in decades that more than one name has appeared on the ballot paper.

Correspondents say the other two candidates - Maher Hajjar and Hassan al-Nouri - are not widely known and have been unable to campaign on an equal footing with the president.

Rami Ruhayem reports from a Syrian refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon

Previous presidential terms have been called through a referendum with just one member of the Assad family on the ballot paper.

Campaigning officially ended on Monday and workers across central Damascus removed banners, posters and pictures of the candidates.

Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi said the election was a "historic day" for Syria and that a large turnout would "prove to the entire world that the Syrian people have decided and are determined to make the electoral process a success".

He urged Syrians to elect a president who would "achieve security and stability in the country... and step up the achievement of national reconciliation".

Election posters have been emblazoned around Damascus

The interior ministry says there are 15.8 million eligible voters, both inside and outside Syria, and about 9,600 polling stations have been set up around the country.

However, voting will only take place in government-held territory, with many parts of the country either under rebel control or in areas being fought over.

Threat of disruption

Opposition fighters have warned they will try to disrupt the vote and the Syrian National Coalition - the main Western-backed opposition group - is boycotting it.

Coalition leader Ahmad al-Jarba described the election as "theatre written with the blood of Syrians".

He accused President Assad of planning to bomb and shell polling stations in order to blame the opposition.

The BBC's Jeremy Bowen in Damascus says the timing of the election reflects a new confidence in the Assad regime.

Government forces have recently made significant military victories while some rebel groups have been fighting among themselves.

Polling stations opened at 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT) and close 12 hours later, although officials said voting could be extended for five hours if there is a big turnout.