Supporters of Myanmar opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi erupted in euphoric cheers yesterday after her party said she had won a parliamentary seat in a landmark election, setting the stage for her to become an MP for the first time.Ms Suu Kyi's results were among the first announced, shortly after polls closed. Her National League for Democracy (NLD) party claimed that Ms Suu Kyi was ahead with 65 per cent of the vote in 82 of her constituency's 129 polling stations.
Yesterday's by-election was called to fill only 45 vacant seats in Myanmar's 664-seat national Parliament and will not change the balance of power in a new government that is nominally civilian but still heavily controlled by retired generals.
Ms Suu Kyi and other opposition candidates would have almost no say even if they win all the seats they are contesting.
Results were expected to come in slowly from more rural and remote areas. All results must be confirmed by the official electoral commission, however, which may not make an official declaration for days.
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