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Myanmar's Suu Kyi Meets Army Chief for Talks on Transition


FILE - Myanmar's Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing (L) and National League for Democracy party leader Aung San Suu Kyi shake hands after their meeting in Naypyitaw, Dec. 2, 2015.
FILE - Myanmar's Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing (L) and National League for Democracy party leader Aung San Suu Kyi shake hands after their meeting in Naypyitaw, Dec. 2, 2015.

Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has met with Myanmar's army chief for talks aimed at transitioning to a democratically-elected government, following nearly five decades of military-rule.

The meeting Wednesday is the third between Suu Kyi and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing since her National League for Democracy scored a massive victory over the ruling military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party in the November 8 election.

Military officials confirmed the talks saying the two "discussed the rule of law and the ongoing process to create a lasting peace" during their meeting at army headquarters in Naypyidaw.

The NLD has not released a statement about the meeting.

Under Myanmar's current constitution, the military retains control of 25 percent of all parliamentary seats, as well as control of several key government posts, including defense, interior and border security.

Many in the country fear the military will ignore the results of the recent election and maintain its grip on power, just as it did in 1990, when it cast aside a landslide victory by the NLD and put Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest for the next 20 years.

But the president and the military chief have pledged to accept the election results.

Myanmar's constitution prevents the 70-year-old Aung San Suu Kyi from serving as president, since her late husband and two sons are British. But she has suggested that she will rule through a proxy candidate.

Some material for this report came from AFP and Reuters.

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