Myanmar issues procedures for international poll observers

Myanmar's Union Election Commission (UEC) has issued procedures for international observers to follow while monitoring the country's upcoming general elections tentatively scheduled for the end of October or the beginning of November this year.

The prospective international observers have been asked to submit their applications to the UEC starting from the formal announcement of election date until 15 days before the election day itself.

According to UEC's procedure announcement published on Friday, international observers will have to carry out their observation only in the designated areas proposed in their plans submitted to the UEC, Xinhua news agency reported.

Legal protection and security will be provided to their observation of the voting process with rights given to them to inform the UEC if unlawful conduct is discovered.

The announcement also states that UEC retains the right to revoke the status and rights of the observer who violates duties and codes of conduct.

The procedure calls on the observers to report to the UEC results of their observation within 60 days.

The 2015 general elections will select representatives to the country's parliament which will form a new government for the five-year term starting 2016.

The current term of the government, which commenced March 2011, will expire in March 2016.