Myanmar President to meet Suu Kyi after final vote count

[YANGON] Myanmar President Thein Sein will only meet Aung San Suu Kyi after the final results of the Nov 8 election are tallied, following a request from the opposition leader for a sit-down to ensure the "people's will" is respected as the vote count drags on.

Three days after polls closed, the election commission has released results of less than 200 of the 498 seats in parliament being contested. Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy has dominated the early returns. The commission has said counting could take a week or longer.

"The public has expressed their opinion," Ms Suu Kyi said in separate letters sent to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Thein Sein and parliament Speaker Shwe Mann. "It is important to implement the people's will in a peaceful manner for the sake of the country's dignity." The government will accept the outcome of the vote and will carry out the peaceful transfer of power at the appropriate time, Information Minister Ye Htut said in a written reply on behalf of Mr Thein Sein. The government would work with the NLD once the official results are released, the statement said.

Mr Shwe Mann said on his official Facebook page that he had received the letter and plans to meet Ms Suu Kyi next week to discuss national reconcilation. Mr Shwe Mann was ousted as leader of Thein Sein's Union Solidarity and Development Party in August.

BLOOMBERG