Polling stations were opened Monday morning in Syria, for local elections and the authorities took tough security measures amid violent unrest targeting President Bashar al-Assad regime, which lasts nine months.
42,889 candidates were entered in the race to fill one of the 17,588 seats in 1337 administrative units consisting of country towns and villages.


Elections have begun while the protests continue and the province of Homs, in central country in the region.


Activists in Beirut told DPA that the security forces opened fire in several areas of Homs and Ildib province, near the border with Turkey. At least one person has died.


From March 15, Syria is affected by a move to challenge the regime. The UN says more than 4,000 people were killed in clashes between the regime forces and protesters Bashar al-Assad.