Myanmar on Sunday saw early voters queuing up outside polling stations to cast their ballot in the military-ruled nation's first general election in five years.
The heavily restricted polls are being conducted under the supervision of Myanmar's military junta which has touted the exercise as a path to reconciliation and a return to democracy.
However, western governments and human rights groups see the elections as a sham designed to keep the military secretly in power through affiliated parties.
In 2021, The Tatmadaw — Myanmar's powerful army — seized power by removing the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
The coup triggered a deadly civil war, which has killed thousands of people and displaced millions.
The civil war continues to rage through much of the Southeast Asian nation even as the elections take place.
Opposition groups have called for a voter boycott.
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The month-long election is divided into three phases.
In Sunday's first round — which began at 6 am local time (2330 GMT) — the vote is being held in 102 of Myanmar's 330 townships, including in the capital Naypyidaw and the cities of Yangon and Mandalay.
The next two phases are slated for January 11 and January 25.
There will be no voting in rebel-held areas.
Over 4,800 candidates from 57 parties are contesting in the elections.
Only six parties — including the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party — have candidates competing nationwide. The Union Solidarity and Development Party is widely projected to win.
The other 51 parties and independents will contest only for regional legislatures.
Former civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains imprisoned. Her hugely popular party, the National League for Democracy, was dissolved in 2023 and is not taking part.
The junta has passed legislation that it says forbid "disruption" of the election, including protest and criticism.
It is pursuing prosecution against more than 200 people for violating the laws.
"These elections are clearly taking place in an environment of violence and repression," UN rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement last week.
Meanwhile on Sunday, Myanmar's military chief Min Aung Hlaing cast his ballot in Naypyidaw alongside other military personnel, the French AFP news agency reported.
"We guarantee it to be a free and fair election," he told reporters. "It's organised by the military, we can't let our name be tarnished."