In the first elections since the Assad regime was ousted, there was no popular vote and women and minorities won few seats. Still, many Syrians saw it as progress toward ending authoritarian rule.

DAMASCUS: Members of local committees in Syria began on Sunday selecting members of a transitional parliament, in a process criticized as undemocratic, with a third of the members…

A third of the members are appointed by interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has said it is impossible to hold direct elections now.