NAYPYIDAW, Jan 28: President Thein Sein hailed the "triumph" of Myanmar's transition of power Thursday, in a last address to a military-dominated parliament before it makes way for a historic new legislature led by Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party.
The Southeast Asian nation, choked for decades under junta rule, is on the cusp of a remarkable political handover after Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) thundered to victory in November elections. Myanmar's people are hoping her government can reboot a country eviscerated by army rule that battered the economy and repressed dissent.
"Even though there were difficulties and challenges, we were able to bring a democratic transformation eventually," Thein Sein said addressing the military-stacked legislature for the last time.
"This is a triumph for all Myanmar's people," he added. Thein Sein, who under drawn-out handover rules retains his post until the end of March, has been a key player in Myanmar's astonishing reform process.     ?AFP