MOSCOW: Parliamentary elections in Syria will take place May 7, President Bashar al-Assad said Tuesday.
The elections will be the first under the country's new constitution, which enables representatives of all registered parties to run in the polls. The constitution was approved in a referendum Feb 27.
Al-Assad had pledged political reforms in the country in 2011. However, the new constitution was adopted only after months of violent clashes between his supporters and opponents.
Anti-government forces, who are pressing for al-Assad's resignation, have refused to recognise the new constitution's legitimacy and are unlikely to run in the polls, the report said.