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| Syria unrest: Local elections held despite fighting | Syria unrest: Local elections held despite fighting |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Syria is holding local elections despite continuing violence between security and opposition forces. | Syria is holding local elections despite continuing violence between security and opposition forces. |
| Authorities said the vote would be freer than in previous years, but the opposition has called for a boycott and launched a general strike. | Authorities said the vote would be freer than in previous years, but the opposition has called for a boycott and launched a general strike. |
| Turnout is expected to be very low. Correspondents say many Syrian voters will not risk going to the polls. | Turnout is expected to be very low. Correspondents say many Syrian voters will not risk going to the polls. |
| Fighting is said to be continuing in several cities, with at least 13 people reported killed on Monday. | Fighting is said to be continuing in several cities, with at least 13 people reported killed on Monday. |
| The Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC), a network of opposition activists, said the deaths had occurred in three restive regions - Idlib in the north and Homs and Hama further south. | |
| The group said four women and two children were among the dead. | The group said four women and two children were among the dead. |
| Fierce fighting is also reportedly continuing in the southern province of Deraa. | Fierce fighting is also reportedly continuing in the southern province of Deraa. |
| On Sunday, activists said up to 18 people had been killed across the country - including 11 in Homs and Hama. | On Sunday, activists said up to 18 people had been killed across the country - including 11 in Homs and Hama. |
| The UN estimates that more than 4,000 people have died in the nine-month uprising, including 307 children. | The UN estimates that 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. |
| Reports from Syria are difficult to verify as foreign journalists are unable to move around the country freely. | Reports from Syria are difficult to verify as foreign journalists are unable to move around the country freely. |
| War zone | War zone |
| The Syrian state news agency reports people flocking to polling stations. | The Syrian state news agency reports people flocking to polling stations. |
| But in opposition strongholds activists say there are few signs that an election is even happening, and almost no-one is voting, reports the BBC's Jonathan Head in neighbouring Turkey. | But in opposition strongholds activists say there are few signs that an election is even happening, and almost no-one is voting, reports the BBC's Jonathan Head in neighbouring Turkey. |
| In these places shops remain shut on the second day of an indefinite general strike called by the opposition, reports say. | In these places shops remain shut on the second day of an indefinite general strike called by the opposition, reports say. |
| The authorities say Monday's polls are part of reforms being introduced in response to the protests. | The authorities say Monday's polls are part of reforms being introduced in response to the protests. |
| "The new election law contains the necessary guarantees for a democratic, transparent and honest election," the head of the elections committee, Khalaf al-Ezzawi, told state media. | "The new election law contains the necessary guarantees for a democratic, transparent and honest election," the head of the elections committee, Khalaf al-Ezzawi, told state media. |
| About 43,000 candidates are competing for more than 17,000 seats in local councils across Syria. | About 43,000 candidates are competing for more than 17,000 seats in local councils across Syria. |
| Zeina, a voter in Damascus, told AFP news agency: "I voted because we want to contribute to the reforms " pledged by President Bashar al-Assad. | Zeina, a voter in Damascus, told AFP news agency: "I voted because we want to contribute to the reforms " pledged by President Bashar al-Assad. |
| But our correspondent says the vote means little in much of the country, where going out to cast a ballot can be too dangerous. | But our correspondent says the vote means little in much of the country, where going out to cast a ballot can be too dangerous. |
| He 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. | He 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 resident of the city told the Arabic news channel al-Jazeera: "I didn't even know an election was taking place. | A resident of the city 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 Bashar al-Assad from the streets, so don't expect to see pictures of candidates who are no more than stooges of the regime." | "The people of Homs have removed every picture of Bashar al-Assad from the streets, so don't expect to see pictures of candidates who are no more than stooges of the regime." |
| Foreign pressure | Foreign pressure |
| 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. |
| It also said that the general strike launched on Sunday was being widely observed in 12 provinces. | It also said that the general strike launched on Sunday was being widely observed in 12 provinces. |
| 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. | 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's conditional acceptance of the league's plan to send in monitors to assess the violence. | On Saturday, the Arab League is due to discuss Damascus's 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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