Burma held its first election in 20 years under tight security, in a scripted vote that assures army-backed parties an easy win but brings a hint of parliamentary politics to one of Asia's most oppressed states.
State TV did not mention the election until a news bulletin four hours after polls had closed that showed army ruler Than Shwe casting his vote.
Results may not be known for a day or more. Witnesses reported low turnout and irregularities.
Two military-backed parties running virtually unopposed were certain to prevail in a carefully choreographed end to half a century of direct army rule.
Complex election rules stifled any prospect of a pro-democracy upset.
The vote will not bring an end to Western sanctions but may reduce Burma’s isolation at a time when neighbouring China has dramatically increased investment in natural gas and other resources in country.
Armed riot police stood guard at polling booths or patrolled streets in military trucks in Yangon, part of a clampdown that includes a ban on foreign media and outside election monitors and a tightening in state censorship.
The Internet suffered repeated failures widely believed to have been orchestrated by the junta to control information.
It is the first election since 1990, when Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy beat the army-backed party in a landslide. The junta simply ignored that result.
Suu Kyi, detained for 15 of the past 21 years, urged a boycott of this poll, saying she ‘would not dream’ of taking part.
She could take the spotlight this week, however, ahead of the expiry of her house arrest on 13 November. Her release could energise pro-democracy forces and put pressure on the West to roll back sanctions.
Military's political wing dominated campaign
The Union Solidarity and Development Party is the military's political juggernaut, fielding 27 incumbent ministers, top-heavy with recently retired generals.
The USDP dominated the campaign, contesting all 1,158 seats up for grabs. Its only real rival is the National Unity Party, another vehicle for the military, running in 980 seats.
At least six parties have lodged complaints with the election commission, claiming hundreds of state workers were forced to vote for the pro-military USDP in advance of balloting.
25% of seats in all chambers are reserved for serving generals. That means an army-backed party needs to win only 26% of the remaining seats for the junta's allies to control the country's national legislature.
Nearly 40 parties are contesting places in a bicameral national parliament and 14 regional assemblies.
Except the USDP and NUP, none have enough candidates to earn any real stake due to a host of restrictions such as high fees for each candidate.
Still, some analysts say the election will create a framework for a democratic system that might yield changes in years ahead in a country bestowed with rich natural resources and located strategically between rising powers China and India.
The United States, Britain and some Asian governments have expressed concern about transparency and say the vote will lack credibility while an estimated 2,200 political prisoners, including Suu Kyi, remain in detention.
