Burma invites US and EU observers to April election

Burma is inviting the United States and the European Union to send observers for its April elections, a spokesman for the US embassy in Rangoon has said.

 

The move follows an earlier invitation to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Tuesday.

It is the first time that foreign poll monitors are being allowed in Burma.

The US embassy spokesman confirmed that the invitation had been received in Washington and said the EU had also been contacted.

He said they had no details as to how many observers were welcome to monitor the 1 April polls which will see 48 parliamentary seats being contested.

An AFP news report, citing an unnamed Burma official, said that representatives from the UN have also been invited.

Correspondents say that the move by Burmese authorities is a bid to ensure the election is seen as credible.

The US, EU and the UN have described the polls as “a key test” of the government’s commitment to reforms.

It is not expected that the vote will change the balance of power in Burma, even though it is being seen as hugely symbolic.

“This is encouraging to see that they have taken this step. Clearly we feel the elections are important for this country’s reform process,” US Rangoon embassy spokesman Mike Quinlan said.

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