21.03.2012
Burma has invited foreign election observers for the first time to witness polls, officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) say.
Asean said that it had been asked to send a total of 23 delegates including two MPs from each member state and media representatives.
Analysts say it is a small but symbolic step as the military-backed civilian government introduces cautious reforms.
Forty-eight seats in parliament are being contested in the 1 April vote.
Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is standing for the first time since 1990, when Burma's military leaders refused to recognise her National League for Democracy (NLD) party's election victory.
Thailand says that the Burmese authorities badly need this election to be seen as credible.
Burma have bowed to international pressure by inviting Asean to send observers for polling in the 48 seats.
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