Historic new parliament opening in Myanmar

Hundreds of MPs have begun a parliamentary session in Myanmar to see in the first democratically elected government in more than 50 years.

It is an assembly dominated by MPs from Aung San Suu Kyi`s National League for Democracy (NLD), which won 80% of elected seats in November`s poll.

But a quarter of all seats are reserved for the military, which also retains control of key ministries.

One of the new parliament`s first jobs will be to choose a new president.

Outgoing leader Thein Sein steps down at the end of March, but Ms Suu Kyi, who spent 15 years under house arrest, is constitutionally barred from standing because her sons are British not Burmese.

She has previously indicated, however, that she will seek to exert influence through the new leader.

For most of the last 20 years Aung San Suu Kyi`s party the National League for Democracy has been treated as the enemy here - its activities suppressed and its leaders jailed.

Now hundreds of them are being sworn in as MPs. Even when the 25% of army-appointed representatives are included the NLD still have a majority.

The identity of the country`s next President is still a closely guarded secret.

For it to be Ms Suu Kyi there would have to be an incredible last minute deal and constitutional change. Most likely it will be one of her most trusted confidantes possibly her doctor.

The new parliament will also be choosing its new chairman, as well as the speakers and deputy speakers of both the lower and upper houses.

Last week Ms Suu Kyi confirmed her party will choose Win Myint as speaker of the lower house and Win Khaing Than, as the upper house speaker.

"We will work to get human rights and democracy as well as peace," NLD MP Nyein Thit told AFP news agency as he arrived at parliament. Ms Suu Kyi did not speak to reporters as she entered the building.