Burma holds first national election

The people of Burma have voted in the country's first national elections in 20 years.



Ruling generals say the polls mark a transition to democratic civilian rule but critics have described the election as a sham.



The National League for Democracy, the main opposition party led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, boycotted the vote.



Observers say voting proceeded calmly while opposition parties say it was manipulated.



President of the Shan National Democratic Party, Sai Ai Pa O, says authorities at various levels forced people to cast advance votes.



Shan, whose party fields the fourth largest number of candidates, says his party was not allowed to send representatives to the polling stations when advanced votes were being cast.



He claims that if the election were free and fair his party would win 80 per cent of the seats.