Syrian lawmakers approve new election law

• Syria's parliament on Thursday approved a new election law which for the first time in decades allows multiple candidates to run for president, just months before the war-torn nation heads to the polls.
• This passage of the law has opened the doors for other contenders apart from President Bashar Assad. 
• Only that candidates will be eligible to run for Presidential election who have lived in Syria for minimum of 10 consecutive years so this law prevents exiled opposition leaders from running against President Bashar al-Assad. 

Important to note : 

1. The Presidential polls will be held between 60 and 90 days before the end of term of Bashar Assad. 
2. Bashar Assad's seven-year term in the office of the President will officially come to an end on 17 July 2014.