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| Myanmar ruling party chairman Shwe Mann ousted | Myanmar ruling party chairman Shwe Mann ousted |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Myanmar's parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann has been ousted from his role as chairman of the ruling USDP party, amid a power struggle. | Myanmar's parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann has been ousted from his role as chairman of the ruling USDP party, amid a power struggle. |
| Security forces surrounded the USDP offices on Wednesday, preventing officials from leaving. | Security forces surrounded the USDP offices on Wednesday, preventing officials from leaving. |
| Myanmar is holding elections in three months, its first since democratic reforms began in 2011. | Myanmar is holding elections in three months, its first since democratic reforms began in 2011. |
| Shwe Mann had been rumoured to be discussing an alliance with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. | Shwe Mann had been rumoured to be discussing an alliance with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. |
| Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) is expected to do well in the 8 November elections, while many believe the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) will perform poorly. | Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) is expected to do well in the 8 November elections, while many believe the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) will perform poorly. |
| However, Ms Suu Kyi is barred by the constitution from contesting the presidency, so negotiations between the NLD and USDP could help determine who ends up leading Myanmar, also known as Burma. | However, Ms Suu Kyi is barred by the constitution from contesting the presidency, so negotiations between the NLD and USDP could help determine who ends up leading Myanmar, also known as Burma. |
| Read more: Myanmar's 2015 general elections explained | Read more: Myanmar's 2015 general elections explained |
| Until last night Shwe Mann, one of the most capable generals in the old military regime, had been seen as a likely successor to President Thein Sein, the BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head reports. | Until last night Shwe Mann, one of the most capable generals in the old military regime, had been seen as a likely successor to President Thein Sein, the BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head reports. |
| Thein Sein and Shwe Mann are said to have had a tense relationship, with both men suggesting they would accept the role of president. | Thein Sein and Shwe Mann are said to have had a tense relationship, with both men suggesting they would accept the role of president. |
| The two also disagreed over potential election candidates, reports said. | The two also disagreed over potential election candidates, reports said. |
| Sources say Shwe Mann has now been replaced by a conservative known to be close to Thein Sein and formerly military ruler Than Shwe. | Sources say Shwe Mann has now been replaced by a conservative known to be close to Thein Sein and formerly military ruler Than Shwe. |
| Security forces could be seen outside his home on Thursday. | |
| "Shwe Mann isn't the chairman of the party anymore," a USDP member told Reuters. "He's in good health and at home now." | "Shwe Mann isn't the chairman of the party anymore," a USDP member told Reuters. "He's in good health and at home now." |
| A nominally civilian government was introduced in Myanmar in 2011, ending nearly 50 years of military rule. | A nominally civilian government was introduced in Myanmar in 2011, ending nearly 50 years of military rule. |
| President Thein Sein introduced reforms including freeing hundreds of prisoners and relaxing media censorship. | President Thein Sein introduced reforms including freeing hundreds of prisoners and relaxing media censorship. |
| However, the military still maintains massive influence in Myanmar's politics, with a quarter of seats in both parliamentary chambers reserved for the military. | However, the military still maintains massive influence in Myanmar's politics, with a quarter of seats in both parliamentary chambers reserved for the military. |