Conservative Ticket Leads in Syrian Vote - 03/12/1961

By United Press International for the Chicago Daily

 

Damascus, Syria, December 3. - Conservative candidates, headed by Mamoun Al-Kuzbari, ex-provisional premier, today took a strong lead in early returns from Syria’s first general election since the break with the United Arab Republic.

 

At stake were 172 seats in the unicameral parliament which will elect the new president and write a new constitution for the nation.

 

Vote on Constitution

 

Voters also were asked to ratify a provisional constitution which in effect would legalise the break with Egypt two months ago. Election officials said the vote was running almost 99 per cent in favour of the constitution.

 

Counting had been completed in 41 of the 60 electoral districts throughout the country but officials said final returns were not expected before tomorrow.

 

There were 1,876 candidates running for the parliament seats, including many of the leaders of the Sept. 28 revolt against the rule of U.A.R. President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

 

Ex-Premier Takes Lead

 

Al-Kuzbari moved into the lead in early returns from the city’s polling places. Ex-premier Sabri El Assali who also served briefly as U.A.R. vice president, and another former premier Khaled Al Azem, were among the frontrunners.

 

Al-Kuzbari, who was named provisional premier by the military junta after the revolt against Egypt, resigned the post to run in the elections. He was favoured to be elected as president.