Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar): The Chief of the Myanmar Defence Services General Than Shwe on Thursday said the military would be able to hand over power to a civilian government only after the country's general election in 2010.

Than Shwe, chairman of the ruling State Peace and Development Council, made the remarks while addressing a military parade in the new capital of Nay Pyi Taw, to mark the country's 63rd Armed Forces Day.

He said the handover would take place in accordance with a new state constitution that would emerge from a national referendum slated for May this year, under the government's seven-step roadmap to transform the military administration into a civil one.

He urged people to cooperate with the government and the armed forces to undertake the historic task successfully.

Although the date for the referendum has not been fixed yet, the draft constitution prepared by the State Constitution Drafting Commission (SCDC) of the government Feb 19 will be put on vote to gauge public approval.

The government's seven-point political roadmap to democracy, announced in August 2003, was outlined as reconvening the long-suspended national convention to draw up a new constitution as the first step, followed by a national referendum on the draft constitution, holding a general election to select parliament representatives and forming a new democratic government.

Source : IANS