Cautious welcome for Myanmar polls

EDITORS NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

The full results of Myanmar's third election in half a century have been promised within a week.

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy Party alleged some irregularities last week and more during the vote on Sunday.

International observers were cautiously welcoming the conduct of the ballot.

SOUNDBITE: CANADIAN SENATOR AND OBSERVER CONSIGLIO DI NINO SAYING (English):

"There's a system. It looks as if the system is working and we hope that lots of people come out to vote and that there's no problems, and that it will be a good day."

SOUNDBITE: PAHIM DATO RAHMANI BASIR, AMBASSADOR OF BRUNEI, SAYING (English):

"I think it's mostly been a good one. The conduct of the voting since it's been open, six o'clock, has been very peaceful and orderly."

If the vote is free and fair, some international sanctions imposed for human rights abuses could be lifted.

Those could include EU bans on investment in timber, and gemstone and metal mining.

It could also mean an end to U.S visa bans and asset freezes.

Paul Chapman, Reuters