Syria holds parliament vote; opposition boycotts
BEIRUT, MAY 7 (AP/UNB) - Syria is holding parliamentary elections touted by the regime as a show of President Bashar Assad's willingness to pursue political reform.
The opposition has dismissed Monday's vote as a sham that seeks to prolong Assad's rule. It's unlikely to affect the course of Syria's popular uprising, which the U.N. says has killed more than 9,000 people in 13-months.
Syria's opposition says it will observe a general strike and boycott the voting for the 250-seat parliament.
The elections come three months after the adoption of a new constitution that allows the formation of political parties to compete with Assad's ruling Baath party and limits the president to two seven-year terms. But oppressive security services have kept regime opponents from participating in politics.
The opposition has dismissed Monday's vote as a sham that seeks to prolong Assad's rule. It's unlikely to affect the course of Syria's popular uprising, which the U.N. says has killed more than 9,000 people in 13-months.
Syria's opposition says it will observe a general strike and boycott the voting for the 250-seat parliament.
The elections come three months after the adoption of a new constitution that allows the formation of political parties to compete with Assad's ruling Baath party and limits the president to two seven-year terms. But oppressive security services have kept regime opponents from participating in politics.
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