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UN urges fair elections, political prisoner release, for Myanmar

Aug 13, 2010, 18:24 GMT

New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Friday took note of Myanmar's announcement of the date for general elections, but he reminded the country to abide by pledges for a credible poll. The military government in Yangon has decided to hold presidential elections on November 7, the first since 1990, when opposition leader Awn San Suu Kyi won in a landslide. She has been under house arrest since then. 'The secretary general reiterates his call on the Myanmar authorities to honour their publicly stated commitments to hold inclusive, free and fair elections in order to advance the prospects of peace, democracy and development for Myanmar,' Ban said. 'As essential steps for any national reconciliation and democratic transition process, the secretary general strongly urges the authorities to ensure that fundamental freedoms are upheld for all citizens (in) Myanmar and to release all remaining political prisoners without delay so that they can freely participate in the political life of their country,' he said. Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy, is serving a new prison term that would expire only on November 27. She most likely would not be allowed to run because of new regulations barring people with prison sentences from seeking elected positions.

Asia-Pacific News

UN urges fair elections, political prisoner release, for Myanmar

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