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    February 26, 2012

Syrians Vote on New Constitution Amid Fresh Violence

   VOA News
   A Syrian woman displays her ballot at a polling station during a
   referendum on the new constitution, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday,
   February 26, 2012. Photo: AP
   A Syrian woman displays her ballot at a polling station during a
   referendum on the new constitution, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday,
   February 26, 2012.

   Violence erupted in Syria Sunday, as the polls opened for a vote on a
   new constitution likely to leave embattled President Bashar al-Assad
   with a lot of power.
   Syrian state television aired footage from polling stations around the
   country and praised the government's decision to hold the referendum.
   Critics are not taking the vote seriously, saying Assad must relinquish
   power after an 11-month uprising against his autocratic rule.
   President Assad promised the referendum in January, saying the new
   document would focus on creating a multi-party system.
   On Sunday, activists reported explosions in the Baba Amr district of
   the central city of Homs, which government forces have bombarded in
   recent weeks. Blasts were also reported in the northeastern oil city of
   Deir Ezzor and the central city of Hama.
   The developments come after the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
   said violence killed about 100 people Saturday, many in government
   attacks on opposition groups.
   No independent confirmation of that account is available.
   Red Cross workers said they were not able to resume emergency medical
   evacuations Saturday for wounded victims trapped in Homs.
   A spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross said talks
   with Syria's government and opposition groups produced "no concrete
   results" on Saturday. The ICRC spokesman said negotiations with both
   sides will continue Sunday in an attempt to enter the city and evacuate
   anyone in need of help.
   A Red Cross spokeswoman told VOA the group is trying to get Syrian
   authorities to agree to a daily two-hour pause in the fighting so
   humanitarian workers can provide aid to victims.
   U.N.-appointed investigators estimate the death toll from the uprising
   at 6,400 civilians and 1,680 army defectors. Syrian government
   officials have said they only took military action when under armed
   attack from "terrorists."

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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