YANGON: Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyis party was confident it was headed on Monday for a landslide victory in Myanmars historic elections.
However, the democracy icon urged supporters not to provoke losing rivals who mostly represent the former junta that ruled the country for a half-century.
The opposition National League of Democracy had won about 70% of the votes counted by midday Monday, party spokesperson Win Htein said.
The comments, if confirmed by official results, indicate that Suu Kyis party would not only dominate the Parliament but could also secure the presidency despite handicaps built into the constitution.
We will win a landslide, Nyan Win, another party spokesperson, told The Associated Press.
I want Mother Suu to win in this election, said Ma Khine, a street vendor, referring to the 70-year-old Suu Kyi with an affectionate term many here use. She has the skill to lead the country. I respect her so much. I love her. She will change our country in a very good way.
The government election commission was expected to start announcing final results Monday evening. The NLD has been widely expected to finish with the largest number of seats in Parliament.
No matter the results, the election will not create a fully democratic Myanmar, which ended a half-century of military rule in 2011, followed by a quasi-civilian government run by a party made up of former military figures now expected to fare badly in the elections.
The constitution reserves 25% of parliamentary seats for the military, and was rewritten to keep Suu Kyi from the presidency.
The amendment bars anyone with a foreign spouse or child from holding the presidents and vice presidents positions. Suu Kyis two sons are British, as was her late husband.
Suu Kyi, however, has said she will act as the countrys leader if the NLD wins the presidency, saying she will be above the president.
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