Syrian parliament elects speaker

MPs also took their oath of office, swearing on the Koran or the Bible.

DAM04 - Damascus, - SYRIA : Mahmud al-Abrash speaks on the opening session of the new Syrian Parliament after being re-elected as Parliament Speaker in Damascus, 07 May 2007. Members of the Syrian Parliament were sworn in today as it held its opening session. AFP
Mahmud al-Abrash was re-elected as parliament's speaker by a comfortable majority[AFP]
The other 78 seats up for grabs went to independents amid a boycott by the only tolerated opposition bloc.
 
The front has won every election since its formation in 1973.
 
The Baath party has ruled Syria under a state of emergency since it seized power in 1963.
 
A referendum on granting Assad another seven-year term is due to be held in coming weeks.
 
He is expected to win comfortably.
Source: News Agencies