A handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syrian president Bashar al-Assad accompanied by his wife Asma (L), posing for a photograph while casting his vote, during the referendum on a new constitution, at a polling station, in Damascus, Syria,on February 26, 2012. Syrians began voting on February 26 on a new constitution that the government says will introduce political pluralism. More than 14,000 polling stations opened nationwide for about 15 million eligible voters. The opposition announced a boycott of the referendum. UPI