Syria to vote on constitution amid bloodshed

DAMASCUS: Syrians are to vote Sunday on a new constitution that could end five decades of single-party rule, although the opposition has called a boycott amid a bloody crackdown on dissent.

The newly proposed constitution was drafted as part of reforms promised by President Bashar al-Assad's government in a bid to calm an 11-month uprising against his regime that began with democracy protests.

It is unclear how the ballot can go ahead in parts of the country hit by violence as government forces move in on protest hubs and rebel strongholds such as the besieged central city of Homs.

But posters and billboards calling on people to vote are displayed across Damascus, with state television airing non-stop programmes from around the country about the new constitution.

"This is the first time that messages are limited to inviting citizens to go to polls without urging them to vote (yes or no) for the constitution," Information Minister Adnan Mahmud told.

The opposition has urged voters to stay away and to go on strike, while demanding Assad's ouster and an end to the crackdown that monitors say has killed more than 7,600 people since March 2011. (AFP)