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Burma invites US and EU observers to April election Burma invites US and EU observers to April by-elections
(40 minutes later)
Burma is inviting the United States and the European Union to send observers for its April by-elections, a spokesman for the US embassy in Rangoon has said. Burma is inviting the United States and the European Union to send observers to its 1 April by-elections, a spokesman for the US embassy in Rangoon has said.
The move follows an earlier invitation to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Tuesday.The move follows an earlier invitation to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Tuesday.
It is the first time that foreign poll monitors are being allowed in Burma.It is the first time that foreign poll monitors are being allowed in Burma.
Asean said that it had been asked to send a total of 23 delegates, including two MPs from each member state and media representatives. Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is running for one of 48 parliamentary seats in the by-elections, which are seen as a crucial test of reforms.
'Joint team'
The US embassy spokesman confirmed that the invitation had been received in Washington and said the EU had also been contacted.The US embassy spokesman confirmed that the invitation had been received in Washington and said the EU had also been contacted.
He said they had no details as to how many observers were welcome to monitor the 1 April polls, which will see 48 parliamentary seats being contested. He said they had no details as to how many observers were welcome to monitor the vote.
Burma's government has yet to formally announce the invitations, said the Associated Press.Burma's government has yet to formally announce the invitations, said the Associated Press.
Analysts say it is a small but symbolic step as the military-backed civilian government introduces cautious reforms. An AFP news report, citing an unnamed Burmese official, said that representatives from the UN had also been invited.
Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is standing for the first time since 1990, when Burma's military leaders refused to recognise her National League for Democracy (NLD) party's election victory. ''It will be like a joint team with Asean, the EU, the US and the UN," the official told AFP.
Correspondents say that the move by Burmese authorities is a bid to ensure the by-elections is seen as credible. But a spokesman for the US embassy in Rangoon said that only Asean, the US and the EU had been invited - not the UN.
"We are encouraged that the Burmese authorities have invited international representatives as observers," an embassy statement said, "and it is notable that the Burmese government will also allow some journalists from these countries to observe the process, demonstrating increased openness to foreign media."
The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Bangkok says that the invitation to send election observers is yet another indication of how quickly things are changing in Burma - where the authorities need to have their reforms witnessed and internationally verified.
On Tuesday, Asean said that it had been asked to send a total of 23 delegates, including two MPs from each member state and media representatives.
Aung San Suu Kyi is standing for the first time since 1990, when Burma's military leaders refused to recognise her National League for Democracy (NLD) party's election victory.
Correspondents say that the move by Burma's military-backed civilian government is an attempt to ensure the election is seen as credible. The US and the EU still have Burmese sanctions in place.
The US, EU and the UN have described the polls as "a key test" of the government's commitment to reforms.The US, EU and the UN have described the polls as "a key test" of the government's commitment to reforms.
It is not expected that the vote will change the balance of power in Burma, even though it is being seen as hugely symbolic. The vote will not change the balance of power in Burma, but it is being seen as hugely symbolic, our correspondent says.
"This is encouraging to see that they have taken this step. Clearly we feel the elections are important for this country's reform process," US Rangoon embassy spokesman, Mike Quinlan, said.