Russia sees Syria vote filling legal vacuum pending new constitution

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during a meeting with his Swiss counterpart Didier Burkhalter in Moscow, Russia, April 11, 2016. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Syria's parliamentary elections on Wednesday aim to avoid a legal vacuum before early elections are held under a new constitution, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

"The Syrian sides will have to agree on a new constitution, on how they see the structures needed to ensure a steady transition to a new system," Lavrov told a news briefing.