Syria's ruling coalition maintained its majority in parliament Wednesday in the first legislative elections since President Bashar al-Assad took office in 2000.
Interior Minister Ali Hammoud told reporters the National Progressive Front, which includes the ruling Ba'ath party, won 167 seats -- the same number it has held in seven previous elections over 30 years.
Another 83 seats went to independents, Hammoud added. The polls bring 178 new representatives to Syria's People's Assembly, he said. Some 63 percent of the more than 7 million eligible voters turned out for the election.
Voters chose 250 representatives from 4,945 candidates over a two-day election. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
