2010-11-10 08:18

YANGON/BANGKOK - The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) led by current Prime Minister U Thein Sein has estimated that the party won about 80 percent of votes in Myanmar's general election on Sunday, sources with the USDP said on Tuesday.

A USDP official told Xinhua that the party secured more than 81 percent of the parliamentary seats at three levels in contesting in Yangon constituencies - 99 percent in Mandalay, 93 percent in Ayeyawaddy and 97 percent in the Tanintharyi region.

The election represented the first multi-party voting in Myanmar in two decades.

The final results of the voting will be formally announced by the union election commission, according to election laws.

Sources from other contesting political parties said they won less votes comparatively.

Some 29 million voters across the country reportedly cast ballots at 60,000 polling stations. The USDP claims a membership of 16 to 18 million.

China welcomes Myanmar's smooth election, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular news conference on Tuesday.

The election was a vital part in Myanmar's seven-step roadmap in its transition toward an elected government, Hong said.

Meanwhile, another battle between Myanmar troops and ethnic minorities raged along the Thai-Myanmar border on Tuesday, forcing more Myanmese villagers to flee across the Thai border, an official said.

"There have been at least 10,000 refugees who have fled to Thailand," said Colonel Wannatip Wongwai, commander of Thailand's Third Army Region responsible for security in the area.

He said Myanmar government troops appeared to have retaken control of Myawaddy, and the rebels of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army held just a few positions on the outskirts of the town.

Thai National Security Council Thawil Pliensri said he expected the fighting to be prolonged, adding that armed men will not be allowed to enter Thailand.

"We will follow our protocol. Fighters will not be allowed to enter Thailand unless they disarm first," the Bangkok Post online quoted Thawil as saying.

Thawil said refugees were being given humanitarian assistance, and the authorities were still able to take care of them at this stage.

A previous round of fighting along the border had broken out on Monday, a day after the polls closed.

The clashes resulted in three deaths and at least 20 wounded, according to the Bangkok Post. At least 10 people, including Thais and Myanmese villagers, were wounded when stray shells hit Thai territory during fighting on Tuesday.

Xinhua

Associated Press