Myanmar's ruling party wins half in by-elections

The ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) of Myanmar, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, has won nearly half number of parliamentary seats in Saturday's by-elections, according to the final results released by the Union Election Commission Sunday afternoon.

Of the 19 parliamentary seats contested in the election, the NLD won a total of nine seats -- five with the House of Representatives (Lower House), three with the House of Nationalities (Upper House) and one with the Shan state parliament.

The NLD's winning seats of the House of Representatives include four in Yangon region's constituencies and one in the constituency of Sagaing region's Monywa.

The party's winning seats with the House of Nationalities include one in Yangon region constituency, one in Bago region's and one in Chin state's.

The by-election results were highlighted by some victory of the ethnic Shan National League for Democracy (SNLD),led by Khun Htun Oo, which won two seats with the House of Representatives in Shan state's constituencies and four seats with the Shan state parliament.

The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), led by U Than Htay, won a total of two seats -- one with the House of Representatives in Mon state's Chaungsone constituency and one with the state parliament in Shan state's Kengtung's.

The All Nationalities Democracy Party (Kayah state) won one seat with the State parliament in Kayah state, while the Arakan National Party (ANP) won one seat with the House of Representatives.

The multi-party parliamentary by-election was held across Myanmar on Saturday in which a total of 2 million eligible voters cast their ballots.

A total of 94 candidates competed for 19 parliamentary seats left vacant in 22 townships in eight regions and states. Of the open seats, nine are with the House of Representatives, three with the House of Nationalities and seven with the state parliaments.

Of the 94 candidates, 87 are from 24 political parties with 18 each shared by the NLD and the USDP, while the seven others are individuals.

It was the first by-election taking place in the tenure of the new government, led by the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), one year after its assumption of office.