Syria to hold local poll amid boycott calls |

Syria to hold local poll amid boycott calls |

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Syrians will cast their ballots in local elections for the first time since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began nine months ago.

Turnout in Monday’s elections, which start at 7:00am local time, is expected to be low, amid calls by activists to boycott the elections and reports of continued violence across the country.

Khalaf Azzawi, the chairman of the electoral commission, was quoted by SANA state agency on Sunday as saying: “The polling stations have been equipped with all the means and mechanisms that would guarantee the voters the freedom to chose the candidates who will represent them.”

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Violence and boycott calls are likely to keep many of the 14.5m eligible Syrians away from local polls [Reuters
In Damascus, the capital city, and Aleppo, the second largest city, pictures of candidates have been posted in the streets, but residents noted that less campaigning activities were held this year than ahead of the last local elections in 2007.

In restive cities rocked by anti-government protests, including Homs, Hama and Deraa, campaigning activities were almost nonexistent.

“There are only two signs calling people to vote in Hama: one in the Assi Square and another at the City Council,” a resident of the central city told Al Jazeera.

“Activists distributed leaflets in the city calling on residents to boycott the elections,” he said.

A resident from Homs’ Inshaat area said: “I didn’t even know an election was taking place. The people of Homs have removed every picture of Bashar al-Assad from the streets, so don’t expect to see pictures of candidates who are no more than stooges of the regime.”

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