The ruling military junta carried out a major reshuffle yesterday, retiring more than a dozen leaders in an apparent move to prepare for national elections in November.
There were conflicting reports about whether the two leading members of the regime – Senior General Than Shwe and his second-in-command, General Maung Aye, had stepped down from the military while retaining their respective posts as chairman and vice-chairman of the junta.
The generals are believed to have stepped down from their military posts so they can stand for election on 7 November in the first polls in two decades.
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