Myanmar sets general polls date

AFP, YANGON: Myanmar officials yesterday announced November 8 as the date for a historic general election set to be the first contested by Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition in a quarter of a century.
The announcement fires the starting gun for the much-anticipated poll in the former junta-run nation, which has launched a series of reforms since the end of outright military rule in 2011.
"The general election will be held on November 8. The Union Election Commission will announce further details later," Thant Zin Aung, deputy director of Yangon's election commission, told AFP of the vote, which will select MPs for both houses of parliament.
A president will be chosen later by parliament, but Suu Kyi is barred by the constitution from taking the top job.
The Nobel laureate's National League for Democracy (NLD) party did not immediately confirm it would participate in the polls, although it is widely expected to make huge gains at the ballot box.

Myanmar sets general polls date

AFP, YANGON: Myanmar officials yesterday announced November 8 as the date for a historic general election set to be the first contested by Aung San Suu Kyis opposition in a quarter of a century. The announcement fires the starting gun for the much-anticipated poll in the former junta-run nation, which has launched a series of reforms since the end of outright military rule in 2011. The general election will be held on November 8. The Union Election Commission will announce further details later, Thant Zin Aung, deputy director of Yangons election commission, told AFP of the vote, which will select MPs for both houses of parliament. A president will be chosen later by parliament, but Suu Kyi is barred by the constitution from taking the top job. The Nobel laureates National League for Democracy (NLD) party did not immediately confirm it would participate in the polls, although it is widely expected to make huge gains at the ballot box.