WORLD IN BRIEF
Wednesday, March 28, 2007; Page A10
Head of Burma's Junta Appears at Ceremony
NAYPYIDAW, Burma -- The head of Burma's ruling junta made a rare public appearance Tuesday at a ceremony in the country's new capital, reviewing thousands of troops under a blazing sun for nearly an hour despite reports of ill health.
Gen. Than Shwe was the only speaker at a ceremony marking Armed Forces Day, which commemorates the day when the Burma Independence Army revolted against Japanese occupation forces during World War II.
Although the 74-year-old leader has been suffering from an undisclosed illness, Than Shwe stood steady and straight in the tropical heat as he spoke to about 500 invited dignitaries, diplomats and journalists, then reviewed the troops as they marched past.
It was the second time the ceremony was held in the country's new capital of Naypyidaw, after years of being observed in a park in the former capital, Rangoon.
Than Shwe, who is head of the military and junta chief, said at the ceremony that building a "strong, efficient, modern and patriotic" military and cementing the unity of the military and the people were the two essential elements for defending Burma, also known as Myanmar.
He warned that the nation still faces danger from "powerful countries" that are trying to undermine its unity and weaken the military.
The ruling junta frequently warns that the pro-democracy movement of detained Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, which was denied its landslide election victory in 1990, seeks to destabilize Burma with the backing of Western nations.
THE MIDDLE EAST
· CAIRO -- Voters overwhelmingly approved a set of controversial amendments to Egypt's constitution, the government said, a day after opposition groups massively boycotted a referendum.
Turnout in Monday's balloting was low -- 27 percent -- but the yes vote was 75.9 percent, Justice Minister Mamdouh Marei said at a news conference broadcast live on state television.
Egyptians are likely to be extremely skeptical of the figures because many polling stations stood virtually empty for hours in the capital, Cairo.
Two local rights groups accused the state of widespread ballot stuffing, with the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights estimating that only 2 to 3 percent of the electorate had voted five hours before polls closed.
When President Hosni Mubarak addressed the nation on television about an hour after the figures were announced, he said he was pleased. Avoiding any mention of the low turnout, he said, "The people are the real winners in this referendum."
