Syria conflict: Assad election plan is criticised

The US has dismissed a Syrian plan to hold a presidential election on 3 June as a "parody of democracy".

UN chief Ban Ki-moon also condemned the plan, saying it could torpedo efforts to broker a deal to end the three-year civil war, which has left an estimated 150,000 people dead.

President Bashar al-Assad is expected to seek a third seven-year term. Lyse Doucet reports from Damascus.