Myanmar vote could be delayed

Next month's historic general election in Myanmar could be delayed, electoral officials and political parties say.

A spokesman for the National League for Democracy told the BBC that parties met officials on Tuesday to discuss postponing the 8 November poll.

The head of the election commission confirmed voting might be delayed because of "landslides and flooding", but gave no further details.

The poll is set to be the first openly contested general election in 25 years.

Senior NLD member Win Htein said: "I think they'll surely postpone the election. We expected this - I think they're doing this because our campaign is gaining momentum and we have a good chance to win this election."

Last week NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi said she planned to lead the government if her party won - even though she is constitutionally barred from the presidency. Myanmar, also known as Burma, has no prime minister's post.

Win Htein said the NLD had been the only party present at Tuesday's meeting to oppose the move to postpone the vote.

The ruling, military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is believed to favour a delay, Reuters news agency reported.

Election Commission Chairman Tin Aye did not make clear whether polls might be delayed across the country or just in parts hit by bad weather in the west and north-west.

"Why don't you... just wait until the statement is released, it could be nationwide too," he told reporters, the Associated Press reported.

Clarification and a possible new election date might come in a statement in the next day or two, he added.

The NLD last took part in a national election in 1990, winning a landslide. But the result was ignored by the military, which kept Ms Suu Kyi under house arrest for 15 years.

The ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party swept the 2010 polls, which were boycotted by the NLD, who alleged widespread fraud.