Flood not to impede Myanmar's polls: Poll panel

Myanmar will go ahead with its general election scheduled for November 8 despite the current flood situation in the country, authorities said on Friday.

"The recent flooding across Myanmar cannot lead to the postponement of the general election, which is around 90 days away, despite the constitutional mandate to do so," said U. Tin Aye, chairman of the Union Election Commission (UEC).

Negotiation is under way whether to allow in observers and correspondents in the polls at military bases, Xinhua quoted the official as saying.

He confirmed that green card holders are disallowed to cast vote in the election.

According to the commission, 2,073 candidates from 56 political parties including 67 individuals have so far been registered to run the election.

It was disclosed by the commission that the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has so far nominated 910 candidates to run for the upcoming general election, while the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) has announced 1,133 candidates.

The commission has extended the deadline to August 16 instead of August 8 for the submission of lists of candidates from political parties.

The new government will be formed in early 2016.