VOTING FOR 2ND PHASE OF MYANMAR'S GENERAL ELECTION CONCLUDES

YANGON (Myanmar), Jan 11 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Voting for the second phase of Myanmar's multi-party democratic general election concluded on Sunday afternoon, reported Xinhua.

Voting began at 6 am local time on Sunday. At 4 pm, an election official at a polling station in Yangon's Latha township announced the closure of the polling station.

Following the closure, election staff at the polling station, in the presence of domestic and international media, candidates, and observers, counted the votes, including advance votes, for seats in the Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House), Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House), and State and Region Hluttaws (State and Region Parliaments).

The second phase of the election was held in 100 townships across 12 of the 14 regions and states. In the Yangon region, it was held in 16 townships, including the townships of Latha, Bahan, Kyimyindaing and Kawhmu.

Myanmar's multi-party democratic general election is being held in three phases, with the first phase held in 102 townships on Dec 28 last year, and the third phase scheduled for Jan 25 this year in 63 townships.

 Following the first phase of the election, the Union Election Commission (UEC) announced the lists of over 100 elected representatives to the Pyithu Hluttaw, more than 30 to the Amyotha Hluttaw and over 100 to the State and Region Hluttaws.

Zaw Min Tun, leader of the Information Team of Myanmar's National Defence and Security Council, said on Sunday, "We will convene the parliament in March. In April, the new government will take office. We will do it according to the same format as before."

The UEC said that about 5,000 candidates from 57 political parties are competing in the three phases of the election, adding that it plans to set up over 21,000 polling stations across the country for all three phases of the general election. 

--BERNAMA-XINHUA