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Aung San Suu Kyi to stand for parliament in Burma Suu Kyi's NLD democracy party to rejoin Burma politics
(about 3 hours later)
  
Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has said she will stand for election to parliament, as her party rejoined the political process. The party of Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has agreed to re-enter the political process and contest parliamentary elections.
On Friday her National League for Democracy said it would register to run in as yet unscheduled by-elections. On Friday her National League for Democracy said it would register to run in the as yet unscheduled by-elections.
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.
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 is to send Hillary Clinton to Burma next month, amid what 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 Aung San Suu Kyi before deciding to send Mrs Clinton, who will be the first US secretary of state to visit in 50 years.
The BBC's South East Asia correspondent Rachel Harvey says the developments are being seen as endorsements of the steps taken by the new military-backed civilian-led government towards political reform. BBC South East Asia correspondent Rachel Harvey says the developments are being seen as endorsements of the steps taken by the military-backed but civilian-led government towards political reform.
'Unanimous decision''Unanimous decision'
The announcements from Ms Suu Kyi and her party followed a meeting of 100 senior NLD leaders in Rangoon. The announcement followed a meeting of 100 senior NLD leaders in Rangoon.
By any measure this has been an extraordinary week for Burma. On Monday, Aung San Suu Kyi marked a year since her release from house arrest. Burma's NLD have decided to re-register as a party, although all of their disagreements with the government have not been resolved.
On Thursday, Asean awarded Burma the rotating chairmanship of the regional grouping in 2014. The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is to visit Burma next month and the NLD, which boycotted last year's widely criticised elections is now re-entering the official political fold. They have also agreed to put up candidates in all 48 seats up for by-election early next year, and Aung San Suu Kyi is likely to be among them.
The Burmese government, led by President Thein Sein, appears to be reaping the benefits of its recent steps towards reform. Sceptics will say it is being rewarded too richly, too soon. But Aung San Suu Kyi, Mr Obama and others have all cautioned that, whilst they are encouraged by what they have seen thus far, much more needs to be done. Obstacles to them rejoining the political process had included the continued holding of political prisoners, government demands that any candidate should back the 2008 constitution, and the government's refusal to admit that the 1990 election was stolen from the NLD.
Releasing all remaining political prisoners, resolving the armed conflicts which persist in some areas and addressing the concerns and rights of Burma's ethnic minorities, remain key benchmarks yet to be met. They have seen some movement in all three areas - and are assured by a promise made to Aung San Suu Kyi by reformist President Thein Sein that all political prisoners will be released soon.
But there appears to be a consensus forming among diplomats that recent progress needs to be supported if the momentum is to be maintained. They are also encouraged by a recent article in a state newspaper by the Parliamentary Speaker Shwe Mann "recognising" the victory of the NLD in the 1990 election.
"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 Aung San 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. But this regulation has since been dropped, and Aung San Suu Kyi said she now wanted the party to contest all 48 seats left vacant in parliament by the appointment of ministers.
She later told the BBC that she would contest one of the seats and run for parliament. A spokesman for the NLD said it was likely that Aung San Suu Kyi would run for office. And the pro-democracy leader herself said she would do what she thought was necessary.
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. "If I think I should take part in the election, I will. Some people are worried that taking part could harm my dignity. Frankly, if you do politics, you should not be thinking about your dignity," AFP news agency quoted her as saying.
"I stand for the re-registration of the NLD party. I would like to work effectively towards amending the constitution. So we have to do what we need to do."
The NLD won elections in 1990 but was never allowed to take power. Aung San 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.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. Aung San Suu Kyi has given a cautious welcome to the moves, but says more progress is needed.
'Concrete action''Concrete action'
Mr Obama echoed her view in comments at a regional summit in Bali.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."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.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."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 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. The 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.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.But Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said member states believed Burma had made significant progress towards democracy.