Opposition Claims Wide Lead in Myanmar Elections
Voters in Myanmar (formerly Burma) turned the country’s first elections in 30 years into a show of defiance against the military government Sunday, and the opposition said it was heading for a landslide victory.
State radio, announcing the first result in the National Assembly elections, said the National League for Democracy won at least one district in Yangon, the capital, with 80% of the vote.
League candidates said the issue now is whether the military junta, which assumed power after soldiers crushed a pro-democracy uprising in September, 1988, will step down.
Myanmar’s 20 million voters turned out in large numbers. No conclusive results are expected for several days.
The campaign was marked by restrictions and harassment. Several opposition leaders were detained and banned from running.
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