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Suu Kyi's NLD democracy party to rejoin Burma politics Suu Kyi's NLD democracy party to rejoin Burma politics
(40 minutes later)
The party of Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has agreed to re-enter the political process, amid signs of reform in the country.The party of Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has agreed to re-enter the political process, amid signs of reform in the country.
In a statement, the National League for Democracy said it would re-register as a political party so it could contest future elections. The National League for Democracy said it would re-register as a political party so it could contest future polls.
The party boycotted the last polls in November 2010, the first in 20 years.The party boycotted the last polls in November 2010, the first in 20 years.
But the new military-backed civilian-led government has now amended the regulations that led to the boycott. Meanwhile the US is to send Hillary Clinton to visit Burma next month, amid what President Barack Obama called "flickers of progress" in the nation.
Meanwhile the US says it will send Hillary Clinton to visit Burma next month, amid what US President Barack Obama called "flickers of progress" in the nation.
Mr Obama spoke to Ms Suu Kyi before deciding to send Mrs Clinton, who will be the first secretary of state to visit in 50 years.Mr Obama spoke to Ms Suu Kyi before deciding to send Mrs Clinton, who will be the first secretary of state to visit in 50 years.
'Unanimous' The BBC's South East Asia correspondent Rachel Harvey says the two developments are being seen as endorsements of the steps taken by the new military-backed civilian-led government towards political reform.
'Unanimous decision'
The NLD announcement followed a meeting of 100 senior leaders in Rangoon.The NLD announcement followed a meeting of 100 senior leaders in Rangoon.
"We unanimously decide that the National League for Democracy (NLD) will register according to party registration laws, and we will take part in the coming by-elections," a party statement said."We unanimously decide that the National League for Democracy (NLD) will register according to party registration laws, and we will take part in the coming by-elections," a party statement said.
It boycotted the previous polls because of election laws that banned Ms Suu Kyi - a former political prisoner - from running.It boycotted the previous polls because of election laws that banned Ms Suu Kyi - a former political prisoner - from running.
But this regulation has since been dropped, and Ms Suu Kyi said she now wanted the party to contest all 48 seats left vacant in parliament by the appointment of ministers. The by-elections have yet to be scheduled.But this regulation has since been dropped, and Ms Suu Kyi said she now wanted the party to contest all 48 seats left vacant in parliament by the appointment of ministers. The by-elections have yet to be scheduled.
The NLD won elections in 1990 but was never allowed to take power. Ms Suu Kyi spent years under house arrest but was freed a year ago by the new government.
Since then it has entered into dialogue with her and freed some - but by no means all - political prisoners.
Ms Suu Kyi has given a cautious welcome to the moves, but says more progress is needed.
'Concrete action'
Mr Obama echoed her view in comments at a regional summit in Bali.
"Last night, I spoke to Aung San Suu Kyi directly and confirmed she supports American engagement to move this process forward," he said.
During her visit, Mrs Clinton would "explore whether the United States can empower a positive transition in Burma", he said.
"That possibility will depend on the Burmese government taking more concrete action. If Burma fails to move down the path of reform it will continue to face sanctions and isolation," he said.
The US maintains economic sanctions and travel bans against members of the former junta.
The US announcement came a day after leaders of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) agreed that Burma could chair the regional bloc in 2014.
Burma was passed over for its turn at the rotating presidency last time because of its human rights record.
But Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said member states believed Burma had made significant progress towards democracy.