Military dominance in Myanmar set to go as Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party nears victory

Yangon: Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party hoovered up nearly all of the first batch of seats to be declared from Myanmar's election, as the opposition eyed massive gains to carry it to power after decades of military dominance. The National League for Democracy's hopes of a decisive victory surged on Monday afternoon after poll authorities handed it 15 of the first 16 seats to be counted in Yangon.

Earlier party spokesperson Win Htein said that unofficial tallies showed the opposition was "on track to win more than 70 per cent of seats around the country." He did not specify if the percentage would translate into power under Myanmar's complex political system. The NLD needs 67 per cent of available parliamentary seats to enjoy a majority.

That would be enough to overwhelm the USDP and their military allies, who are gifted 25 per cent of seats by a constitution scripted to ensure they still have a major stake in the future. The army-backed USDP, or Union Solidarity and Development Party, said it was ready for a wipeout in the commercial capital Yangon, while several of its heavyweights, including its chairman, lost their seats.

But the NLD shied away from an outright declaration of victory, with election authorities expected to release results in several waves deep into Monday night. Suu Kyi, who is still barred from the presidency under the army-drafted constitution, remained cautious, but hinted at victory. "It is not the time to congratulate our candidates who we think have won the election," she told supporters and journalists from the balcony of her party's Yangon headquarters. But "people have an idea of the result even if I don't say it," she added.

Election authorities have said that preliminary figures would be released within 48 hours of yesterday's vote, and a full nationwide count in 10 days or so. In its Yangon stronghold, the NLD took 12 lower-house seats and three more for the regional parliament. A fourth went to the USDP, which appeared increasingly beleaguered.

On the city's streets, NLD supporters were buoyant. "I have no doubt about the results. I think everything is going to change," said Yee Yee, 30, a market spice seller. Even the state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar declared the "dawn of a new era", while USDP heavyweight Shwe Mann conceded on his Facebook page that he had lost his seat to his NLD challenger.