New Delhi, Jan. 12 -- Myanmar began a second round of voting Sunday in its first general election since the military takeover five years ago.

Voting expanded to additional townships including some areas affected by the civil war between the military government and its armed opponents.

Critics say the polls organized by the military government are neither free nor fair and are an effort by the military to legitimize its rule after seizing power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

Vote labeled as a sham

Tom Andrews, a special rapporteur working with the U.N. human rights office, urged the international community Thursday to reject what he called a "sham election," saying the first round exposed coercion, vi...