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Myanmar elections 'anything but free and fair'
US President Barack Obama said during a visit to India that the elections being held in military-ruled Myanmar on Sunday would be "anything but free and fair."
US President Barack Obama said during a visit to India that the elections being held in military-ruled Myanmar on Sunday would be "anything but free and fair."
"There are elections that are being held right now in Burma, that will be anything but free and fair," Obama said in a town-hall meeting with students in Mumbai, during the second day of his visit to India.
"For too long the people of Burma have been denied the right to determine their own destiny," he added, using the former name of the country.
Myanmar was voting in its first election in 20 years with complaints of intimidation adding to fears the poll is a sham to create a facade of democracy after decades of military rule.
The vote went ahead with democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who is strongly supported by the United States, still detained.
Two pro-military parties are together fielding about two-thirds of the total candidates, leaving the splintered opposition with little chance of success.
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