YANGON: Supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party on Monday cheered early results from Myanmar's historic election, with hopes boosted of sweeping gains to carry it to power after decades of military dominance.
Election authorities have so far announced only a small fraction of the results, but the National League for Democracy has scooped the lion's share of those, boosting enthusiasm in the crowds in front of Suu Kyi's party headquarters in Yangon Monday evening.
"We'll win tonight, we'll stay until we win anyway," said 24-year-old Wanna Htay, sporting a scarlet bandana with the party's iconic fighting peacock motif as the crowd sung and cheered around him at the height of the celebrations.
Sunday's elections saw millions line up to cast their ballots in what many hope will mark a dramatic leap towards democracy in the Southeast Asian nation, which withered for decades under the iron grip of junta rule.
It could take days for the full results to be officially announced, but the NLD has already given a bullish prediction for its first election in 25 years.
Party spokesman Win Htein told AFP earlier that unofficial tallies showed the opposition "on track to win more than 70 percent of seats around the country".
He did not specify if the percentage would translate into power under Myanmar's complex political system.
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