Syria selects members of first post-Assad parliament

Damascus: Local committees in Syria cast their ballots for members of a transitional parliament, with a third of the new lawmakers to be appointed directly by interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.

The assembly's formation is expected to consolidate the power of Sharaa, whose forces led a coalition that toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December after more than 13 years of civil war.

Members of the local committees queued up to vote at Syria's National Library, formerly the Assad National Library, with preliminary results set to be announced on Sunday night.

The electoral commission said in the evening that "the voting has ended and the counting is underway". The final list of winners is due on Monday.

Around 6,000 people took part in Sunday's selection process.

According to the commission, more than 1,500 candidates -- just 14 percent of them women -- are running for the assembly, which will have a renewable 30-month mandate.

Sharaa is to appoint 70 representatives to the 210-member body.

The other two-thirds are being selected by local committees appointed by the electoral commission, which itself was appointed by Sharaa.

Under a temporary constitution announced in March, the incoming parliament will exercise legislative functions until a permanent constitution is adopted and new elections are held.

Sharaa has said it would be impossible to organise direct elections now, pointing to the large number of Syrians who lack documentation after millions fled abroad or were displaced internally during the civil war.

Speaking from the National Library on Sunday, Sharaa appeared to acknowledge criticism of the process, saying that while "it is true that the electoral process is incomplete... it is a moderate process that is appropriate for the current situation and circumstances in Syria".