Suu Kyi party refuses Myanmar seats over oath row
Source: Associated Press
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- Aung San Suu Kyi and the other newly elected lawmakers in Myanmar's leading opposition party boycotted parliament Monday, but party officials expect their dispute over the oath of office to be resolved soon.
The National League for Democracy party objects to phrasing in the lawmakers' oath that says they must "safeguard the constitution," which they want amended because they say it gives too much power to the military.
The dispute comes as the European Union is expected to hold a meeting in Luxemburg later Monday in which it is expected to suspend most sanctions against Myanmar for a year while it assesses the country's progress toward democracy.
The absence from parliament of Suu Kyi and 42 other elected lawmakers who won historic April 1 by-elections was expected, and her party says they will not attend until the dispute is resolved.
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