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Myanmar parliament voting on new president Myanmar parliament elects first civilian president in decades
(about 2 hours later)
Myanmar's parliament has begun electing a new president, who is almost certain to be the first civilian to lead the country in more than 50 years. Myanmar's parliament has elected Htin Kyaw as the next president, the first civilian to lead the country after more than 50 years of military rule.
They are choosing between three candidates put forward by the upper and lower houses and the military. Htin Kyaw is a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to victory in historic elections in November.
The winner is widely expected to be Htin Kyaw, a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi whose National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to victory in historic elections in November. He beat another NLD candidate and one put forward by the military.
Ms Suu Kyi is barred from the post. Ms Suu Kyi is barred from the post due to a constitutional clause, but has said she would be above the president.
A clause in the constitution widely seen as being tailored against her says anyone whose children have another nationality cannot become president. Her children hold British passports. Htin Kyaw won with 360 of the 652 votes cast.
Despite weeks of negotiation, the NLD were unable to persuade the military of Myanmar - also known as Burma - to remove or suspend the clause to allow Ms Suu Kyi to take office. In second place was military-nominated Myint Swe, who received about 200 votes, followed by the other NLD candidate, Henry Van Thio who got 79 votes.
But she has always said that she would run the country anyway, with the president effectively acting as a proxy. They will serve as first vice-president and second vice-president respectively.
Who are the nominees?
How Suu Kyi could be more powerful outside the presidency
The NLD has a huge majority in both houses of parliament, despite the military's automatic 25% of seats, so the candidate it backs is all but guaranteed to win.
"We have planned to vote for Htin Kyaw and practised not to make any mistake," an NLD MP told AFP news agency on Monday.
The runners-up will become vice-presidents. The NLD will then begin the process of forming a government before taking office in a few weeks' time.
The new president replaces Thein Sein who will step down at the end of the month after five years of army-backed rule.
Who is Htin Kyaw?