Myanmar reforms hailed

A UN human rights envoy said Sunday that Myanmar's government was considering allowing international observers to monitor upcoming by-elections, adding that this was another sign of the country's commitment to democratic reforms.

"I met [the] chairman of Union Election Commission and he told me that international observers are being considered for April 1 by-election," envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana said, as his six-day visit to the military-ruled state came to a close.

He went on to praise the "continuing wave of reforms in Myanmar, the speed and breadth of which has surprised" observers around the world.

Since ceding power from Myanmar's formerly iron-fisted military rule in March the country's nominally civilian government has sought to prove its commitment to democratic reforms by introducing a series of dramatic changes.

Suu Kyi standing for election

Myanmar's President Thein Sein has opened talks with democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, freed more than 600 political prisoners and signed a ceasefire agreement with a handful of Myanmar's ethnic minority insurgencies.

The upcoming elections will, however, prove to be a key test for gauging the progress of the nation's reforms, Quintana said, as "serious challenges remain."

"There is also a risk of backtracking on the progress achieved thus far," he warned.

As leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, Suu Kyi has been permitted the right to enter the by-election race, contesting a seat in Yangon. After two decades in detention the Nobel Peace laureate is likely to be swept into parliament becoming the legitimate opposition leader.

Other NLD party members have also been permitted to contest the remaining 47 seats up for grabs.

ccp/msh (dpa, AP, AFP)