Myanmar votes in second phase of military-run election

Voters in war-torn Myanmar cast ballots on Sunday in the second stage of an election dominated by a party backed by the ruling military, as the junta sought to gloss over a low turnout in the initial round of a contest widely derided as a sham.



Polling stations opened at 6am local time in 100 townships across the country.



Many of the towships have seen clashes in recent months or remain under heightened security, underscoring the risks surrounding the vote.



The election is being held in three phases due to armed conflicts.



The first round took place on Dec 28 in 102 of the country’s total 330 townships, followed by the second phase on Sunday.



A final round is scheduled for Jan 25, although 65 townships will not take part because of fighting.



Myanmar has been ravaged by conflict since the military ousted a civilian government in a 2021 coup and detained its leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking a civil war that has engulfed large parts of the impoverished nation of 51 million people.