MOSCOW (Sputnik) – On April 13, Syria is holding parliamentary elections with over 7,000 polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. in Syria with police, the army, the national guard and militias providing protection. Some 3,500 candidates are vying for 250 seats in the country’s parliament.
“The settlement process in Syria should be inclusive, that is it should include all religious groups and national groups,” Peskov told journalists.
Syrian President Bashar Assad issued a decree designating April 13 as the date for the vote to the unicameral legislature. The announcement came minutes after Russia and the United States negotiated the truce which took effect five days later and has been described as largely observed despite violations.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said last month the parliamentary elections would have "no impact" on UN-mediated intra-Syrian negotiations in Geneva.
The latest elections to the Syrian legislature were held in the country in May 2012 with 51-percent voter turnout, or 5 million people who cast their vote, according to the Syrian election committee.
