Myanmar cancels planned parliamentary by-election for later this year

YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar's Union Election Commission says by-elections that where scheduled for later this year to fill 35 empty parliamentary seats will not be held.

Commission Chairman Tin Aye made the surprise announcement Sunday at a meeting with political parties in Yangon.

The commission announced in March that by-elections would be held this year to fill seats vacated for various reasons.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, will hold a general election in 2015.