Aung San Suu Kyi casts vote in Myanmar's historic elections

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi casts her vote in the country's landmark parliamentary elections, which would decide the fate of the junta-ruled government. This is the first free and fair democratic process in 25 years in the Southeast Asian nation.

Close to 30 million people are eligible to cast ballot. Although poling stations open at 6am local time, people started queuing up outside polling booths well in advance. Even though elections opened in Yangon and around Myanmar, no violent incidents have been reported so far.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), widely tipped to win the elections, is challenging the decades-long rule of the governing Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP), led by incumbent President Thein Sein.

"I will accept the new government formed, based on the election result," the military ruler said on the eve of the elections. Voters will have a choice to pick from 6,065 candidates for the 664-seat parliament. Nevertheless, 25% of the seats are reserved for unelected military representatives, who are likely to favour the military junta.

"I have cast my vote, my duty is done. I voted for the one the people want to rule," 74-year-old Myint Aung, who voted in the same polling station as that of Suu Kyi, told the Guardian.

Suu Kyi's car inched through a scrum of journalists, who waited for her to make a statement. She did not speak to reporters nor made any statement. Results are not expected to be out until 9 November.