Under the shadow of civil war and questions over the poll's credibility, the initial round of Myanmar's phased general election closed on Sunday, with signs of low voter turnout for the first polls since a military coup in 2021.

The Trump administration has joined a small number of countries—including China and Russia—in backing the vote, which is being held amid a brutal civil war.

A coup set off a brutal civil war and made a poor country poorer. Now its military rulers are seeking a veneer of legitimacy by holding elections.

Under the shadow of civil war and questions over the poll's credibility, voters in Myanmar cast their ballots in apparently low numbers in a general election on Sunday, the first since a military coup toppled the last civilian government in 2021.

YANGON: The United Nations said Sunday (Dec 28) that Myanmar needs "free, fair, inclusive and credible" elections, as balloting began in a heavily restricted military-run poll.

Many condemned the Myanmar Elections as a “sham”, as the most popular party, the National League for Democracy, is banned from running in the election. Stay tuned to this LIVE blog for all the latest