Syrians vote for new parliament amid boycott calls

Syrians have voted in the first multiparty parliamentary election in five decades against a backdrop of violence and dismissed as a sham by the opposition.

Most of the restive areas that have seen regular protests against the government of President Bashar al-Assad boycotted the elections on Monday.

According to independent observers in Damascus, election turnout was low.

Activists said troops had killed three people in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour. There was also reportedly fighting in Hama and Idlib provinces.

The elections, promised last year by President Bashar al-Assad, were the first in 40 years not to guarantee a majority for the ruling Baath Party.

Opposition groups dismissed them as a sham, calling for a boycott.

They said the government was continuing its crackdown on dissent despite agreeing to a peace plan negotiated by the UN envoy, Kofi Annan.

UN observers have reported widespread violations of a ceasefire that began on 12 April, while soldiers and tanks remain in towns and cities.

Thousands are still being detained and peaceful protests continue to be dispersed with gunfire, in contravention of Annan's initiative.

The election is not part of a comprehensive and inclusive political dialogue for a democratic future of the country, the United Nations said. 

"These elections are not taking place within that framework," said Martin Nesirky, spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. "Moreover, a democratic process cannot be successful while violence is still ongoing."

Elections for the 250-seat People's Assembly were due last year, but they were delayed after President Assad unveiled a series of purported reforms, including a new constitution that was approved in a referendum in February.

The new constitution dropped an article giving the Baath Party unique status as the "leader of the state and society" in Syria. It also allowed new parties to contest elections, albeit those not based on religious, tribal, regional, denominational or professional affiliation, nor those based outside the country.

Nine new parties have been created and seven reportedly had candidates standing on Monday. Most are known to be linked to the old political establishment.

A total of 7,195 candidates registered to contest the 250 seats, at least half of which are reserved under the constitution for "representatives of workers and peasants", whose unions are controlled by the Baath Party.

Before the polls, the chairman of the Higher Elections Committee, Khalaf al-Izzawi, insisted that they would be "free, fair and democratic".