Myanmar invites observers

The polls, seen as a major test of the nominally civilian government's pledges to usher in an era of democracy, will see opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi stand for a seat in parliament for the first time.

Observers from the United States, European Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been formally invited to adjudge standards during by-elections.

"We welcome the invitation of observers," said a spokesman for Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party, Nyan Win. "They should be allowed to watch and assess freely."

The US embassy in Yangon described the move as "encouraging."

"Clearly we feel the elections are important for this country's reform process," said embassy spokesman Mike Quinlan.

But he said reports of voting irregularities and accusations of intimidation also needed to be addressed.

"Having observers is one step, but to have a free and fair election there really should be no violence and intimidation as well," he said.

The EU did not respond immediately to the statements from Yangon, but an EU official based in Bangkok who wished to remain anonymous told news agency AFP that at least six months' preparation time was required to set up an observer mission.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Suu Kyi is running for one of 48 parliamentary seats for the National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

The NLD won a 1990 general election but were refused power by the military junta that then ruled Myanmar. Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest ahead of the polls and the party underwent a lengthy period of repression.

The party boycotted general elections in 2010 because it felt rules were unfair.

A military-backed nominally civilian government won those polls and has since taken meaningful steps toward democratizing the country, reengaging with the international community and freeing political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.

dfm/ipj (AFP, AP)