NAYPYIDAW, April 3 -- Myanmar's parliament elected junta chief Min Aung Hlaing as president on Friday (3), parliament said, with the ex-military commander set to maintain his rule in a civilian guise after snatching power by force five years ago.

The coup-leading general - who swept aside democracy in 2021, detaining elected figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi and dissolving her party - was anointed by pro-military MPs installed in a recent election overseen by the junta he leads.

The vote on Friday across the upper and lower houses of parliament in the capital Naypyidaw saw Min Aung Hlaing secure a huge margin over the second-place candidate in a three-person race.

"We hereby announce Senior General Min Aung Hlaing as president," parliament s...