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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Syria unrest: Local election held despite fighting | Syria unrest: Local election held despite fighting |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Syria is holding local elections despite continuing violence between security forces and protesters. | Syria is holding local elections despite continuing violence between security forces and protesters. |
| The authorities said the vote would be freer than in previous years, but the opposition has called for a boycott. | The authorities said the vote would be freer than in previous years, but the opposition has called for a boycott. |
| Turnout is expected to be very low. Correspondents say many Syrian voters will not risk going to the polls amid escalating violence. | Turnout is expected to be very low. Correspondents say many Syrian voters will not risk going to the polls amid escalating violence. |
| Sunday saw further bloodshed in several cities. Syria has refused to allow international election monitors. | Sunday saw further bloodshed in several cities. Syria has refused to allow international election monitors. |
| The UN estimates more than 4,000 people have died in the nine-month uprising, including 307 children. | The UN estimates more than 4,000 people have died in the nine-month uprising, including 307 children. |
| The Syrian government says it is fighting armed groups. Many army defectors have joined the opposition in recent months. | The Syrian government says it is fighting armed groups. Many army defectors have joined the opposition in recent months. |
| War zone | War zone |
| About 43,000 candidates are competing for more than 17,000 seats in local councils across the country on Monday. | About 43,000 candidates are competing for more than 17,000 seats in local councils across the country on Monday. |
| The interior ministry distributed invisible ink to prevent fraud and ensure the honesty of elections, the state-run Sana news agency said. | The interior ministry distributed invisible ink to prevent fraud and ensure the honesty of elections, the state-run Sana news agency said. |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head in neighbouring Turkey says the vote will mean little in much of the country, where people will not vote - either because they support the opposition's call for a boycott or because going out to vote is too dangerous. | The BBC's Jonathan Head in neighbouring Turkey says the vote will mean little in much of the country, where people will not vote - either because they support the opposition's call for a boycott or because going out to vote is too dangerous. |
| Our correspondent says Homs - Syria's third-largest city - resembles a war zone, with gun-battles occurring every day between army units and lightly armed opposition forces. | Our correspondent says Homs - Syria's third-largest city - resembles a war zone, with gun-battles occurring every day between army units and lightly armed opposition forces. |
| A Homs resident told the Arabic news channel al-Jazeera: "I didn't even know an election was taking place. The people of Homs have removed every picture of [President] Bashar al-Assad from the streets, so don't expect to see pictures of candidates who are no more than stooges of the regime." | A Homs resident told the Arabic news channel al-Jazeera: "I didn't even know an election was taking place. The people of Homs have removed every picture of [President] Bashar al-Assad from the streets, so don't expect to see pictures of candidates who are no more than stooges of the regime." |
| Eleven of the deaths on Sunday were in Homs and Hama, the anti-government Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC) said. | Eleven of the deaths on Sunday were in Homs and Hama, the anti-government Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC) said. |
| The opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) has warned of an impending final assault on Homs by security forces. | The opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) has warned of an impending final assault on Homs by security forces. |
| Foreign pressure | Foreign pressure |
| On Sunday the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said two people had died in clashes between troops and deserters in the northern Idlib province. | On Sunday the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said two people had died in clashes between troops and deserters in the northern Idlib province. |
| There was also a battle in the southern town of Busra al-Harir, with several armoured vehicles reported destroyed. | There was also a battle in the southern town of Busra al-Harir, with several armoured vehicles reported destroyed. |
| Syria severely restricts access to foreign media so reports of unrest cannot be verified. | Syria severely restricts access to foreign media so reports of unrest cannot be verified. |
| President Assad is under international pressure to end the continuing crackdown on anti-government protesters. | President Assad is under international pressure to end the continuing crackdown on anti-government protesters. |
| United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay is due to brief the Security Council on the situation in Syria later on Monday. | |
| On Saturday, the Arab League is due to discuss Damascus' conditional acceptance of the league's plan to send in monitors to assess the violence. | |
| Last month the league suspended Syria's membership in protest at the continuing crackdown and also imposed economic sanctions. | Last month the league suspended Syria's membership in protest at the continuing crackdown and also imposed economic sanctions. |
| Are you voting in the elections? You can tell us about your thoughts and experience of the vote today by filling in the form below. | Are you voting in the elections? You can tell us about your thoughts and experience of the vote today by filling in the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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