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Obama urges 'credible' vote in Myanmar Myanmar key players in rare roundtable talks
(about 1 hour later)
US President Barack Obama has called for an "inclusive and credible" process when Myanmar holds general elections next year. Myanmar's president is holding rare roundtable talks with the opposition, military and ethnic groups, as the US called for "credible" polls next year.
The comments were made in telephone talks with Myanmar's President Thein Sein, the White House said. The meeting comes days after officials announced the next general election would be held in late 2015.
They came as military leaders, politicians and ethnic groups met on Friday for rare talks. Ahead of the meeting, US President Barack Obama held telephone talks with both President Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The opposition boycotted the last general election in Myanmar in 2010, because of rules it said were unfair. He urged Thein Sein to ensure the polls were "inclusive".
The gathering, being held in the capital Naypyitaw, will reportedly focus on the peace process, national reconciliation and political reform.
Senior officials attending are said to include the president, both vice-presidents, the two parliamentary speakers, the military chief and representatives from various ethnic political parties.
Ms Suu Kyi, whose party the National League for Democracy (NLD) is the official opposition, has called for such a meeting in the past.
Political reform
Last week, officials announced that the general election would take place in either late October or early November 2015.
The NLD boycotted the last general election in 2010, because of rules it said were unfair.
That poll, the first in the nation in 20 years, moved Myanmar away from decades of outright military rule. It now has a civilian government dominated by a military-backed party.That poll, the first in the nation in 20 years, moved Myanmar away from decades of outright military rule. It now has a civilian government dominated by a military-backed party.
Thein Sein, the elected president, initiated a series of reforms after the election that led to the Aung San Suu Kyi-led pro-democracy opposition rejoining the political process. Thein Sein, the elected president, initiated a series of reforms after the election that led to the Suu Kyi-led pro-democracy opposition rejoining the political process.
Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was then elected to parliament in a by-election in 2012. A by-election in 2012 saw Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi - who spent years under house arrest as she called for democracy in the nation - elected to parliament in a landslide win for the NLD.
Mr Obama also spoke with Ms Suu Kyi on the telephone regarding how Washington could "support efforts to promote tolerance, respect for diversity, and a more inclusive political environment", the White House said. Despite her personal popularity, she is banned from running for president in next year's election for constitutional reasons.
Thein Sein's government, meanwhile, is facing criticism that the reform process has stalled.
Earlier this week UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee told the general assembly that while progress had been achieved, there were also signs of backtracking, citing unresolved ethnic conflicts, the incarceration of political prisoners and violence in Rakhine state.
Mr Obama is expected to make his second presidential visit to Myanmar, also known as Burma, in November.Mr Obama is expected to make his second presidential visit to Myanmar, also known as Burma, in November.
Thein Sein has called a rare meeting on Friday between the representatives of the government, parliament, opposition, including Ms Suu Kyi, and ethnic groups. The White House said Mr Obama had asked Thein Sein to take "additional steps" towards resolving the conflict in Rakhine.
The gathering will reportedly focus on the peace process, national reconciliation and the country's political reform.
Ms Suu Kyi, who is banned from running for president in next year's election, has on previous occasions called for a meeting with Thein Sein, the parliament speakers and the military chief to discuss reforms.
The government has said the upcoming election will be held in October or November 2015.
The White House said Mr Obama also asked Thein Sein to take "additional steps" towards resolving the conflict in Rakhine state.
In 2012 violence broke out between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims, killing about 200 people. Since then tens of thousands of people have been displaced, mostly from the minority Rohingya community.In 2012 violence broke out between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims, killing about 200 people. Since then tens of thousands of people have been displaced, mostly from the minority Rohingya community.