Burma's President accepts election wins

Burma's President, Thein Sein, said the by-elections, won by Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, were carried out successfully, signalling acceptance of a result that will boost the political clout of his party's biggest rival.

"It was conducted in a very successful way," the retired general said.

The Nobel Peace laureate's party won big majorities in the by-elections on Sunday, a victory she hailed as a "triumph of the people".