Local sources said that parliamentary delegations from Iran and Iraq arrived to Damascus, in response to an invitation from the “parliament of the regime,” to participate in “monitoring” the play of the Syrian regime's presidential elections, to be held in the regime-controlled areas (about 63% of Syria), next Wednesday.

The regime news agency (SANA) reported that an Iraqi delegation headed by a member of the Iraqi parliament, Kata Al-Rikabi, arrived in Damascus, accompanied by a number of "representatives and electoral specialists."

An Iranian delegation headed by Zahra Lahian, a member of the Iranian Shura Council, and a number of council members also attended. A Belarusian delegation is scheduled to arrive in Damascus to participate in monitoring the regime’s elections, as well as a delegation from the Russian Federation Council.

At the end of last month, the “parliament of the regime” issued invitations to a number of parliaments of Arab and foreign countries, including Russia, Iran, China, Venezuela and others, to witness the presidential election play “in the regime-controlled areas.