Syrians vote for Aleppo council

GAZİANTEP – Doğan News Agency

Syrians went to the polls in a rare test of democracy for the election of the Aleppo provincial council. AA photo

Syrians went to the polls in a rare test of democracy for the election of the Aleppo provincial council in the southeastern province of Gaziantep on March 3.

The opposition-organized election is being held at a hotel in Gaziantep for security reasons. Some 250 representatives from neighborhoods in Aleppo have elected 25 members to the Aleppo City Council and 29 others to the Local Council.
Although the vote was held in Turkey, the future provincial council will be based inside Syria.

Opposition leader Moaz al-Khatib visited the hotel in which the election took place and pledged to organize similar elections for other cities. Al-Khatib also hinted that the opposition will form a transitional government as soon as possible.

Syrian refugees living in Öncüpınar camp in the southern Turkish province of Kilis also took part in elections last month to select village headmen and an administrative council.