Burma holds first national election in 20 years

The main opposition party, the National League for Democracy, led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, is boycotting the vote, saying it is being manipulated.

"The authorities of various levels forced the people to cast advance votes," said Sai Ai Pa O - president of Shan National Democratic Party, which is garnering the fourth largest number of candidates.

"We are not allowed to send representatives to the polling stations at the time of advance voting," he said. "If the election was free and fair, I am sure we would win at least 80% of seats."

Foreign journalists and monitors have not been allowed into the country for the election.

Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein, of the Democratic Party, said she was "quite surprised to see a lot of people come to vote. 'No Vote' campaigns have appeared to be ineffective".

Despite the fact that the country hasn't held an election for 20 years, there is little sense of excitement and more a sense of nervousness in the city.

Many voters appear sceptical that the election will count for very much, but have cast their votes in hope rather than expectation.

Critics are considering the poll a sham, while optimists say it is flawed. However, it is the only game in town, and could be the beginning of a slow process of democratisation.

Results are expected from Rangoon within a couple of days, but it will take longer to collate results from other remote areas in the country.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the elections "expose the abuses of the military junta".

The National League for Democracy, which won the last polls in 1990 but was never allowed to take power, has been forced to disband after it said it was not participating because of laws which banned Ms Suu Kyi from taking part.

Other parties that are contesting the polls have reportedly struggled to fund campaigns and have complained of harassment.