Pro-democracy leader banned from contesting elections

A new election law issued by Burma’s ruling military bars pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from joining a political party and thus from running in upcoming elections, state-run newspapers said today.

The Political Parties Registration Law, published in official newspapers, excludes anyone convicted by a court of law from party membership and may force Ms Suu Kyi’s expulsion from her National League for Democracy.