Syrian voters head to the polls early on Sunday, to take part in a referendum on the country's new constitution.<br/> <br />Across the country, more than 14,000 voting centres are available for residents to cast their ballots.<br/> <br />One poll official says turnout is much higher than expected.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BASSAM HADDAD, CHIEF OF ONE POLLING CENTRE, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Since the early hours, voting is good. It is so much more than we expected. We can say it is 200 percent of what was expected at this time."<br/> <br />The new constitution would drop an article that places President Bashar al-Assad's Baath Party as the state leader.<br/> <br />This is meant to allow political pluralism and prevent the president from being in power for more than two seven-year terms.<br/> <br />But those fighting the four decades of Assad family rule have called for a boycott.<br/> <br />Some activists in Damascus and nearby suburbs have said they plan to hold protests near polling centres and will burn copies of the new constitution.<br/> <br />Authorities have held two referendums since Assad inherited power from his late father 12 years ago.<br/> <br />The first installed him as president with an official 97.29 percent 'yes' vote, and the second renewed his term seven years later in a similar landslide.<br/> <br />The government touted these referendums as clearly democratic, but dissidents say they were a sham.<br/> <br />With voting under way, security forces have continued their bombardment of Homs and other towns.<br/> <br />Human rights campaigners say at least 100 people were killed over the weekend.<br/> <br />Travis Brecher, Reuters
