Assad calls for parliament elections in April
Assad calls for parliament elections in April
February 23, 2016 | 12:05 AM
Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad speaks during an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais in Damascus, in this handout picture provided by SANA on February 20, 2016. — Reuters
February 23, 2016 | 12:05 AM
Last Updated: February 23, 2016 | 12:05 AM
3 minute read
AA
Resize
Syrian President Bashar Assad has called for parliamentary elections to be held in April.
A UN Security Council resolution adopted in December calls for parliamentary and presidential elections to be held during an 18-month transition period that would end the five-year-old conflict in Syria.
But the country was due for parliament elections anyway, as the current parliament's term expires in May. Assad announced in a decree issued Monday that new parliament elections would be April 13. Such elections are held once every four years.
The announcement came hours after the US and Russia agreed on a temporary cessation of hostilities for Syria that will take effect Saturday, even as major questions over enforcing the truce were left unresolved. — Al Arabiya news
