Opposition splits to contest Myanmar election

A faction of Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition declared yesterday it will form its own political party to contest Myanmar's first elections in two decades, a day after the democracy icon's party disbanded to boycott the vote it says will be flawed.

Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, which won Myanmar's last election in 1990 but which the army didn't allow to take power, declined to reregister for elections planned for this year, as stipulated by a new election law.

The League says the laws are undemocratic and unfair. A group of League members who had disagreed with the boycott said they would form their own party.