Myanmar is holding its first election in five years after the military seized power. Observers say the China-backed military rulers held the vote in a sham to legitimize their power.

Major political parties have been barred from taking part in the election. Many party leaders are in prison. More than half the population is expected to be out of the vote due to the civil war. The phased election is being held almost five years after the military government seized power in a rebellion that turned into a civil war after sparking widespread protests. The BBC reported that explosions and airstrikes were reported in several parts of the country during Sunday's vote. The chief minister of the region told the BBC that three people were taken to hospital after a rocket attack on a house in Mandalay early Sunday morning. Earlier, a series of explosions damaged more than a dozen houses in Myawaddy township, near the Thai border, late Saturday night. A child was killed in the attack and three people were taken to hospital in critical condition, a local resident told the BBC.