Hopes high after peaceful election in Myanmar

Voting unfolded smoothly in Myanmar yesterday with no reports of violence to puncture a mood of jubilation marking the southeast Asian nation’s first free nationwide election in 25 years, its biggest stride yet in a journey to democracy from dictatorship.

The party of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to win the largest share of votes cast by an electorate of about 30m, who chose from among thousands of candidates standing for parliament and regional assemblies.

But a legacy of military rule means she cannot become president after the election, even if her National League for Democracy wins a landslide.