Assad ready to hold early presidential elections

Syrian President Bashar Assad said he is ready to hold early presidential elections if it is the desire of the Syrian people. 

"I have no problem with this in principle, because the president cannot work without the people’s support. And if the president is supported by the people, he must always be ready for such a step. I can say that this is no problem for us, but in order to take such a step, we need the Syrian public opinion and not the opinion of the government or the president," RIA Novosti cited him as saying.