Myanmar's new laws in preparation for general elections this year fail to meet UN demands for a credible and politically inclusive democratic process, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday, dpa reported.
Ban said he was carefully studying the new electoral laws issued by the military government in Myanmar, which has scheduled a presidential election this year.
"The indications available so far suggest that they do not measure up to our expectations of what is needed for an inclusive political process," Ban said in a statement.
He reiterated his call for Myanmar authorities to "ensure such an inclusive political process leading to fair, transparent and credible elections in which all citizens of Myanmar, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, can freely participate."
The UN has been calling for the release of Suu Kyi, leader of the opposition National League for Democracy, and other political prisoners. Suu Kyi has been held under house arrest by the military government for more than 10 years for calling for democratic reform.