Myanmar's Suu Kyi says she is willing to be president

Suu Kyi said it is her duty as leader of the National League for Democracy party to be willing to take the executive office if that is what the people want. Myanmar's next election is in 2015.

“I'm a leader of a political party. As a political party leader, I also have to have the courage to be president. If that is what the people want, I will do so,” Suu Kyi told a news conference.

Responding to a question, she said a clause in the constitution that effectively bars her from the job is one of several her party wants to change.

However, Suu Kyi's party still wants to change several clauses in the constitution. Some give the military enough unelected seats in parliament to effectively bar constitutional change. Another bars anyone from the presidency whose parent, spouse or child enjoys the privileges of being the citizen of another country. Suu Kyi's late husband was British and the couple had two sons, who live outside of Myanmar.

Suu Kyi said she believes that other lawmakers may also be agreeable to the changes, noting that “parliament has more democracy than I expected.”

“To amend the constitution has been one of our policies since we ran in the by-elections. We will keep trying to amend it — not only for me to be president, we will also amend other things,” she said.

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