Syria is holding a presidential election in government-held areas, amid heightened security.

President Bashar al-Assad is widely expected to win a third seven-year term in office.

However, critics of the Syrian government have denounced the election as a farce.

Syria is three years into a civil war in which tens of thousands of people have died and millions more have been displaced.

Analysts say Syrian officials have gone to great lengths to present the vote as a way to resolve the crisis.

This is the first time in decades that more than one name - just a member of the Assad family - has appeared on the ballot paper.

BBC