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| Burma's new capital city unveiled | Burma's new capital city unveiled |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Burma's military rulers have been showing off their new capital for the first time to the outside world. | Burma's military rulers have been showing off their new capital for the first time to the outside world. |
| The new city, called Naypyidaw, or Abode of Kings, is being built about 460km (300 miles) north of the old capital, Rangoon. | The new city, called Naypyidaw, or Abode of Kings, is being built about 460km (300 miles) north of the old capital, Rangoon. |
| Until now few outsiders were allowed to go there, but the foreign media has been invited to the capital to watch the huge Armed Forces Day parade. | Until now few outsiders were allowed to go there, but the foreign media has been invited to the capital to watch the huge Armed Forces Day parade. |
| However, it is still not clear why the generals have moved here. | However, it is still not clear why the generals have moved here. |
| The rutted and overcrowded roads of Burma suddenly give way to smooth eight-lane motorways as you approach the new capital. | The rutted and overcrowded roads of Burma suddenly give way to smooth eight-lane motorways as you approach the new capital. |
| href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6498475.stm">In pictures: Capital on parade Capital confusion | |
| Naypyidaw is being built on a vast and extravagant scale in hundreds of square kilometres of tropical scrubland. | Naypyidaw is being built on a vast and extravagant scale in hundreds of square kilometres of tropical scrubland. |
| All government employees were forced to uproot from Rangoon and move here a year-and-a-half ago. | All government employees were forced to uproot from Rangoon and move here a year-and-a-half ago. |
| New pastel-coloured apartment blocks are being developed for them. There is reliable electricity and water. | New pastel-coloured apartment blocks are being developed for them. There is reliable electricity and water. |
| But they complain that the city lacks shops and restaurants. Many have refused to bring their families. | But they complain that the city lacks shops and restaurants. Many have refused to bring their families. |
| The military has built itself a fortress-like complex to the east. This is where Burma's reclusive leader, General Than Shwe, now lives. | The military has built itself a fortress-like complex to the east. This is where Burma's reclusive leader, General Than Shwe, now lives. |
| This morning we had a rare glimpse of him reviewing thousands of parading troops on Armed Forces Day. | This morning we had a rare glimpse of him reviewing thousands of parading troops on Armed Forces Day. |
| He appeared frail but delivered a familiar, hardline message warning the soldiers to be ever vigilant against foreign powers he said were bent on weakening the country - a reference to US and European pressure for democratic reform. | He appeared frail but delivered a familiar, hardline message warning the soldiers to be ever vigilant against foreign powers he said were bent on weakening the country - a reference to US and European pressure for democratic reform. |
| Secure in its remote new capital, the military still shows no signs of loosening its grip on Burma. | Secure in its remote new capital, the military still shows no signs of loosening its grip on Burma. |
| You can send us your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk | You can send us your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
| Do you live in Burma? What do you think about your new capital? Send us your views. | |