Assad's staying power leaves Turkey frustrated and exposed


A photo of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad is seen on a car at al-Qardahah town near Latakia city May 26, 2014. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri

ANKARA (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's certain victory in an election next month, derided internationally as a charade, leaves Turkey facing a bitter truth - its assumption of his quick demise was a costly miscalculation.

With al Qaeda-linked armed groups controlling patches of territory across Turkey's southern border and a registered refugee influx set to top a million within months, Syria's three-year old war presents Ankara with an increasing financial burden and a growing security threat.

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