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| Burma sets date for popular votes | Burma sets date for popular votes |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Burma will hold a constitutional referendum in May followed by general elections in 2010, the country's military junta has said. | Burma will hold a constitutional referendum in May followed by general elections in 2010, the country's military junta has said. |
| The regime had set out what it called a roadmap for democracy but had not previously given any firm timetable. | The regime had set out what it called a roadmap for democracy but had not previously given any firm timetable. |
| It made the announcement in a statement on state television and radio. | It made the announcement in a statement on state television and radio. |
| Burma has been under military rule since 1962. The country saw rare nationwide protests against the ruling junta in August and September. | Burma has been under military rule since 1962. The country saw rare nationwide protests against the ruling junta in August and September. |
| Saturday's announcement said that "multi-party democratic elections will be held in 2010, according to the new constitution. | Saturday's announcement said that "multi-party democratic elections will be held in 2010, according to the new constitution. |
| "It is suitable to change the military administration to a democratic, civil administrative system, as good fundamentals have been established," the regime said. | "It is suitable to change the military administration to a democratic, civil administrative system, as good fundamentals have been established," the regime said. |
| "The country's basic infrastructure has been built, although there is still more to do in striving for the welfare of the nation." | "The country's basic infrastructure has been built, although there is still more to do in striving for the welfare of the nation." |
| Burma held a multi-party election in 1990 that was won by the National League for Democracy (NLD), headed by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. | |
| The military ignored the result and Ms Suu Kyi has spent 12 of the last 18 years under house arrest in Burma's commercial capital, Rangoon. | |
| Instead, the military formed a convention in 1993 that spent the next 14 years laying out the guidelines for a new constitution. | |
| Saturday's statement said the constitution would be finished soon. |