Syrians head to polls amid continuous violence

Syria’s ballot boxes were opened on Monday morning at 7:00 a.m., allowing Syrian voters to elect the members of the People’s Assembly, in line with the new constitution adopted last February.     

Article 30 of the General Elections Law stipulates that electoral campaigns must stop 24 hours ahead of elections.   

The number of candidates representing the social spectrum reached 7,195 in 15 electoral constituencies, competing through 12, 152 electoral centers for 250 parliamentary seats.   

Syrian opposition leaders have dismissed upcoming parliamentary elections as a cynical attempt by President Bashar Assad to hold on to power and urged voters to stay away, but the regime has portrayed Monday's vote as a sign of its willingness to carry out reforms, while at the same time denying that it faces a popular uprising.    

The election of a 250-seat parliament comes three months after the adoption of a new constitution that allows the formation of political parties to compete with the ruling Baath party.

AP/LBCI/REUTERS