Syrians in Lebanon vote for president for 2nd day

Hundreds of Syrians living in Lebanon have lined up outside their embassy near Beirut to vote ahead of their country’s June 3 presidential election as expat balloting was extended for another day.

President Bashar al-Assad is widely expected to get a third seven-year term in the vote that has been criticized by the West and Syria’s opposition.

Expat voting in Lebanon was extended through Thursday after Syrian voters clashed with Lebanese troops outside the embassy the day before.

The situation around the hilltop embassy in the town of Yarze, southeast of the Lebanese capital, appeared more orderly on Thursday.

Lebanese troops patrolled the area as hundreds of people - some waving Syrian flags and holding Assad’s photos - patiently waited in two lines to go into the embassy to vote.