The elections committee, in a statement received by AFP, said “voting is proceeding in a democratic spirit,” adding that voting turnout was “good.” It did not elaborate.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said seven people were killed in the flashpoint regions of Homs and Idlib on today, while strikes were observed in Daraa, cradle of nine months of anti-regime protests, and near Damascus.
Opposition activists have urged citizens to intensify a civil disobedience campaign launched on yesterday in a bid to bring down the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
Polling stations opened at 0600 GMT, with 42,889 candidates vying for 17,588 seats, and were due to close at 2000 GMT. Information Minister Adnan Mahmud told AFP the elections were part of a reform package pledged by the authorities to promote democracy and would be followed by legislative polls in February.
“These elections are taking place on time in line with a reform programme,” Mahmud told