Before the official announcement, Suu Kyi spoke to thousands of cheering supporters who gathered outside her party's headquarters.
Myanmar election officials confirmed today that Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party had won a landslide victory in historic by-elections, with the democracy icon saying she hopes the vote marks the beginning of a new era for the long-repressed country.
Before the official announcement, Suu Kyi spoke to thousands of cheering supporters who gathered outside her party's headquarters a day after the party declared she had won a parliamentary seat in yesterday's closely watched vote.
"The success we are having is the success of the people," Suu Kyi said, as a sea of supporters chanted her name and thrust their hands into the air to flash "V'' for victory signs.
Later, the state election commission confirmed that her National League for Democracy party had swept to a victory that will put it at the head of a small opposition bloc in the military-dominated parliament.
State radio and television reported the commission's announcement that the NLD had won 40 of the 45 seats at stake.
Results from five constituencies in remote areas were not yet reported.
The NLD's own count gave it 43 seats, while it awaited results from one constituency in distant Shan State.
It failed to contest one constituency after its candidate was disqualified.
"It is not so much our triumph as a triumph of the people who have decided that they have to be involved in the political process in this country," Suu Kyi said. "We hope this will be the beginning of a new era."
The Nobel Peace laureate will take public office for the first time and lead the small bloc of lawmakers from the NLD in parliament, where it will hold just about 6 percent of the seats.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}