Nov

2011

11:40am, EST

Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters

Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi shakes hands with people outside the National League for Democracy headquarters after a meeting in Yangon on Nov. 18, 2011. The party of Suu Kyi, which boycotted last year's general election, said on Friday it would contest upcoming by-elections, the latest sign of political rapprochement under a new civilian government. The 106-member Central Executive Committee of the NLD voted unanimously to register the party, which was officially dissolved last year by the then military regime, and contest the by-elections, it said.

A return to politics in Myanmar, marking 'historic opportunity for progress'

In a positive sign for politics in Myanmar, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi decided to return to politics and participate in future elections. The National League for Democracy party re-registered as a political party, causing celebrations among supporters.

NBC, msnbc.com and news services report:

"We want to seize what could be an historic opportunity for progress and make it clear that if Burma continues to travel down the road of democratic reform, it can forge a new relationship with the United States of America," Obama said Friday during his diplomatic mission to southeast Asia.

In exploring a breakthrough engagement with Myanmar, also known as Burma, the president first sought assurances of support from democracy leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Continue reading the full story.