India, Jan. 4 -- Myanmar's military-appointed election body has begun announcing the winners of the first phase of its three-part general election, saying that the military-backed party has won the majority of seats, as widely expected. Critics of the current system say that the election is designed to add a facade of legitimacy to the status quo.

They charge the polls are neither free nor fair because of the exclusion of major parties and government repression of dissenters. Opposition groups have called for a boycott by voters. The military Government said that more than 6 million people - about 52 per cent of the more than 11 million eligible voters in the first phase of elections held December 28 - cast ballots, calling the turnout a...