UN chief greets Myanmar's new president

United Nations, March 16: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated U Htin Kyaw on being elected Myanmar's new president, a UN statement has said.

Ban hailed the election "as a significant achievement toward advancing the democratic reforms ushered in by the outgoing government," Xinhua news agency cited a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesman.

Moreover, Ban called upon U Htin Kyaw and other significant stakeholders to work together toward a smooth and peaceful consolidation of unity and stability in Myanmar, it said.

Ban also reaffirmed the readiness of the UN to continue to support efforts to advance peace, development, human rights and the rule of law for the benefit of all the peoples of Myanmar, it said.

In Tuesday's presidential election, U Htin Kyaw of the ruling National League for Democracy, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, won the presidential election with the highest number of votes of 360 against two other presidential candidates -- U Myint Swe (213 votes) from the military and U Henry Van Htee Yu (79 votes) from the same party.

U Htin Kyaw becomes the second president of Myanmar after the military returned power to the civilian in 2011.

IANS