Burma Nixes Suu Kyi Presidential Bid

Burma parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann has ruled out pre-election changes to the junta-drafted constitution, which bars opposition leader and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming president. Mann’s comments come just days after President Obama backed Aung San Suu Kyi’s attempts to change the charter, saying in Rangoon that it “makes no sense” for a candidate to be barred merely because his or her children are not Burmese citizens. Elections are due in November 2015. Mann said a referendum would be held next May on constitutional changes that are being thrashed out amid heated debate in the legislature. On Monday, the powerful military voiced strong opposition to significant changes to the constitution, including clause 59f, which is thought to have been written specifically to thwart Aung San Suu Kyi, whose children are British.