Suu Kyi party: Burma leader sent election congratulations

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party on Wednesday said that Burma's president has offered his congratulations on leading the race in Sunday's elections.
The National League for Democracy (NLD) said in a statement that the country's Information Minister Ye Htut gave his good wishes on behalf of President Thein Sein.
The NLD quoted Ye Htut as saying: "In accordance with the Union Election Commission's election results announcement, I would like to congratulate you, the NLD, for leading the race for parliamentary seats. In honor of the citizens' desire, the government will pursue a peaceful transfer in accordance with the legislated timeline."
Ye Htut wasn't immediately available to confirm the report.
The results are still being announced, but the NLD has won almost 90% of the 40% of seats declared so far. The vote was the country's first openly contested national elections in 25 years.

USA TODAY

Burma election marred by delay accusations

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi won her seat, but is barred from becoming president because her close relatives are foreign. Her late husband was a British national, and she has two British sons. She said she will be "above the president" for which her party has a candidate whose identity has not been revealed.
The NLD said in a post on its Facebook page that Suu Kyi wrote to the president, commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing and House Speaker Shwe Mann asking for a meeting next week, presumably to discuss forming a new government.

USA TODAY

Profile: Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi

Ye Htut said the president and the military will respect the results of Sunday's "free and fair elections," and that the meeting Suu Kyi requested will be held after the Union Election Commission completes its work, the Associated Press reported.
Suu Kyi, 70, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, spent decades trying to bring democracy to Burma, also known as Myanmar, including 15 years under house arrest for defying the nation's military rulers. She was released in 2010.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said the elections in the former British colony were an important step toward democracy and "a triumph for Burmese people, who have clearly voiced their desire for change."