Syrians expatriates started to cast their votes in presidential elections with the opening of the ballot boxes at the Syrian embassies and consulates in many countries across the world.

Ballot boxes opened on Thursday in several capitals across the world including Madrid, Moscow, Paris, Sudan, Prague, Cairo, Vienna, Amman, Baghdad, Algiers and many others.

In Beirut, a few hundreds of Syrians supporters turned up early at the hilltop embassy outside the capital to cast their ballot. The election is the second since the country’s deadly war broke out 10 years ago.

The vote is to be held in Syria May 26, with Syrians abroad voting Thursday.

In Lebanon, which hosts around a million Syrians – most of them refugees – Lebanese army soldiers stood guard as Syrian citizens who live in Lebanon queued outside their embassy in Yarze, east of Beirut, to cast their ballots. Some shouted slogans in support of President Bashar Assad as they waited. Others carried his picture and one hung it on his chest.

Source: Agencies