Votes counted after Burma election

8 November 2010 Last updated at 10:22 GMT

Man reads a newspaper in Rangoon, Burma, 8 November 2010 Burma's media reported the election was a successful, smoothly-run process


Votes are being counted after Burma's first election for two decades, a poll condemned by Western governments as neither free nor fair.

Sunday's poll was boycotted by the main pro-democracy opposition party, the NLD. Parties close to the military junta are expected to do well.

There were reports of irregularities, voter intimidation and a low turn-out.

Meanwhile, deadly clashes between ethnic rebels and government troops have erupted near the Thai border.

The poll is the first in the military-ruled nation since 1990, when the Aung San Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy secured an overwhelming victory but was never allowed to take power.

Some analysts say that this election - although deeply flawed - could mark the start of a process of democratisation, by giving opposition lawmakers a voice, however limited, in the institutional decision-making process.

Low turnout

Burma's state-run media described the election as a successful, smoothly-run process. Voters were electing candidates to a two-chamber parliament and 14 regional assemblies.

More than two-thirds of the 3,000 candidates were running for two parties closely linked to the military junta.

Turn-out for the election was reportedly low.

A BBC correspondent in Burma's largest city, Rangoon, described the atmosphere as subdued, with no queues at polling stations.

Some voters told the BBC they could not vote in private, while opposition groups alleged that many state employees had been pressured to vote in advance for the main pro-military party.

The NLD boycotted the polls because of election laws it said were unfair.

Western nations have criticised the conduct of the election; US President Barack Obama said it had not met "internationally accepted standards", while the UK said the results were "a foregone conclusion".

In a joint statement on Monday, the US and Australia called for the immediate release of political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi.

It is not clear when election results will be released.

Tensions surrounding the poll spilled into violence on Monday, with three people reportedly killed in or near the town of Myawaddy, on the Thai border, in a clash between a Karen rebel faction and government troops.

There were also reports of stray shells landing on the Thai side of the border, injuring at least eight people.

More than 1,000 people are reported to have fled the fighting.

Clashes have now spread further south to the Three Pagodas Pass, and the Thai army says it is sending reinforcements to the area.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11708237