Thread by @AFP

#BREAKING Syrian President Assad re-elected with 95% of votes, according to parliamentary head

#UPDATE Bashar al-Assad has been re-elected for a fourth term as president of war-ravaged Syria, official results showed, despite Western accusations the polls were "neither free nor fair" u.afp.com/UhWt

#BREAKING Russia hails Assad's 'decisive' poll victory

#UPDATE Russia has welcomed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's "decisive" victory after he claimed re-election with a landslide win in a vote criticised by the opposition and Western nations

#BREAKING Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulates ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on his re-election, saying it confirmed his "high political authority" in the war-torn country

#UPDATE Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday congratulated ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on his re-election, saying it confirmed his "high political authority" in the war-torn country