(VOVworld)- On Wednesday, more than 7,000 polling stations all over Syria opened, beginning parliamentary elections in the Middle Eastern nation.

Syrian citizens in the rubble (Photo: The Independent)

More than 3,000 candidates are running for 250 seats in the new parliament. However, opposition groups have boycotted the elections, which took place on the day when the Syrian government and the opposition camp planned to resume peace talks in Geneva, Switzerland. Police, army and National Guard force and militants have been deployed to ensure security for the elections.