Syria's president, fighting an 11-month-old uprising against his rule, has ordered a referendum on a draft constitution on February 26 that limits the presidency to two seven-year terms and allows for multiple parties, state television said on Wednesday. It was unclear whether President Bashar al-Assad, who has ruled since his father's death in 2000 and is serving his second term, would be able to run for another two terms or whether he would have to stand down when his current one ends in 2014.
Assad, 46, facing protests and an armed insurgency against four decades of Assad family rule, promised reforms last year but has also sent troops and tanks to bombard areas in revolt. He lifted a state of emergency in April and promised multi-party parliamentary elections for February, as well as a new constitution that would be put to a vote. That timetable has slipped but state television said a parliamentary election would be held within 90 days of the constitution being approved. Holding a credible referendum would be tricky in a country where some rebellious towns and cities are under military siege.
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