Aung San Suu Kyi hails by-election victory
Burma's leader of the National League for Democracy party has won 43 of the 44 constituencies
Burma's leader of the National League for Democracy party has won 43 of the 44 constituencies
In a landslide victory, Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party are celebrating a landslide victory in a series of by-elections.
The victory is now expected to accelerate moves to lift sanctions in Burma but concerns are mounting over the devastating impact the democratic leader will have on President Thein Sein's Union Solidarity and Development Party.
'It's problematic,' says an official. The victory could leave the ruling party vulnerable to challenges from hardliners within the country's military establishment.
But in a euphoric speech Aung San Suu Kyi warned her supporters they must not upset the feeling of those on the other side and should act in a controlled way following the triumph.
'It is not so much our triumph as a triumph for the people who have decided they must be involved in the political process of this country,' she says.
'It's not so important how many seats we won, though we are gratified that we've won so many, but the fact that the people are so enthusiastic about participating in the democratic process.'
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The National League for Democracy has won 43 out of the 44 constituencies it has contested and looks set to win the remaining one too.
The United States and the EU will be watching closely to see how the victory is received by the president and his military supporters.
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