Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said on Saturday that elections to a new parliament will be held by year's end, as Syria's regime faces international pressure over its deadly crackdown on protests. "Syria will hold free and transparent elections that will give birth to a parliament representing the aspirations of the Syrian people," Muallem said in a meeting with foreign ambassadors posted to Damascus.
"The general elections will be held before the end of the year," Muallem said, quoted by the official SANA news agency. The foreign minister stressed "the commitment of the Syrian leadership to the continued reform process and implementation of measures announced by President (Bashar al-) Assad."