Syrians cast ballots in parliamentary elections

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syrians cast ballots Monday, May 7 in parliamentary elections billed by the regime as key to President Bashar Assad's political reforms but which the opposition dismissed as a sham meant to preserve his autocratic rule.

The voting for Syria's 250 member parliament is unlikely to affect the course of Syria's popular uprising, which began 13 months ago with anti-Assad protests. The regime has violently cracked down on dissent and many in the opposition have armed themselves, pushing the country toward civil war.

The UN says more than 9,000 people have been killed in Syria's turmoil.

Polls opened at 7 am and Syrian state TV showed voters lining up and dropping white ballots in large, plastic boxes. Election officials say more than 7,000 candidates are competing seats in the legislature in a country of almost 15 million eligible voters out of a population of 24 million.

The elections are the first under a new constitution, adopted three months ago. The charter for the first time allows the formation of political parties to compete with Assad's ruling Baath party and limits the president to two seven-year terms, The Associated Press reported.