<p>Syrian President Bashar al-Assad today announced a May 7 parliamentary election, even as violence raged in flashpoint provinces and 22 regime troops were killed in ambushes by rebel fighters.</p>.<p> The announcement came as UN-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan said he was expecting a response from Assad today to "concrete proposals" to halt Syria's bloodshed and Russia stepped in with a proposal for international observers.<br /><br />State news agency SANA said Assad, who has proposed a programme of reforms in the face of an unprecedented revolt, has set May 7 as the date for legislative elections under a new constitution passed in a February referendum.<br /><br />The elections would be the third time a legislative vote has taken place in Syria since Assad came to power in 2000, but the first under a multi-party system as authorised under the new law.<br /><br />Annan, speaking to reporters in Ankara after meeting with Syria's opposition, said he was "expecting to hear from Syrian authorities today since I left some concrete proposals for them to consider."<br /><br />He was referring to weekend meetings in Damascus with Assad, after which he had expressed optimism the crisis could be resolved peacefully but warned the situation in Syria was at a "dangerous" level.<br /><br />"Once I receive their answer we will know how to react," the former UN chief said. "Let me say that the killings and the violence must cease."<br /><br />Annan said he had a "useful meeting" in Ankara with six representatives of the opposition Syrian National Council headed by Burhan Ghalioun, whom he said had "promised their full cooperation."<br /><br />Ghalioun, whose group last week rejected a call from Annan for dialogue with Assad's regime, said the opposition's priority was for a peaceful outcome to the year-long conflict. </p>
<p>Syrian President Bashar al-Assad today announced a May 7 parliamentary election, even as violence raged in flashpoint provinces and 22 regime troops were killed in ambushes by rebel fighters.</p>.<p> The announcement came as UN-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan said he was expecting a response from Assad today to "concrete proposals" to halt Syria's bloodshed and Russia stepped in with a proposal for international observers.<br /><br />State news agency SANA said Assad, who has proposed a programme of reforms in the face of an unprecedented revolt, has set May 7 as the date for legislative elections under a new constitution passed in a February referendum.<br /><br />The elections would be the third time a legislative vote has taken place in Syria since Assad came to power in 2000, but the first under a multi-party system as authorised under the new law.<br /><br />Annan, speaking to reporters in Ankara after meeting with Syria's opposition, said he was "expecting to hear from Syrian authorities today since I left some concrete proposals for them to consider."<br /><br />He was referring to weekend meetings in Damascus with Assad, after which he had expressed optimism the crisis could be resolved peacefully but warned the situation in Syria was at a "dangerous" level.<br /><br />"Once I receive their answer we will know how to react," the former UN chief said. "Let me say that the killings and the violence must cease."<br /><br />Annan said he had a "useful meeting" in Ankara with six representatives of the opposition Syrian National Council headed by Burhan Ghalioun, whom he said had "promised their full cooperation."<br /><br />Ghalioun, whose group last week rejected a call from Annan for dialogue with Assad's regime, said the opposition's priority was for a peaceful outcome to the year-long conflict. </p>