Beirut (AFP) – Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad declared he is willing to run for re-election, in a television interview broadcast Monday, saying he did not see a reason why he should not.

Asked whether he would run, Assad told Lebanese channel Al-Mayadeen: “My answer depends on two factors. The first is the personal desire, and the second is the will of the people.”

“Regarding the first point, the one related to me personally, I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t run in the next election,” he said.