Myanmar's parliament has elected Htin Kyaw, a close friend and confidant of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as President , making the first Head of State who does not hail from a military background since the 1960s. The NLD nominated Htin Kyaw for the role. Mr. Kyaw runs a charity founded by Suu Kyi and has been a trusted member of her inner circle since the mid-1990s. He is not a lawmaker.

"Today's result is because of the love of people for her. It is the victory of my sister Aung San Suu Kyi," Mr. Kyaw said.

"This is the big day for us," Zar Ni Min, an NLD lower house MP, said after the vote. "This is what we have hoped for since a long time ago."

Htin Kyaw, 69, has won 360 of 652 votes cast by Myanmar's two legislative chambers, paving the way for him to serve as a proxy for the Nobel laureate who is constitutionally barred from becoming president. The son of a revered poet who has helped run Suu Kyi's charitable foundation in recent years, Htin Kyaw has long been a trusted member of her inner circle.

Htin Kyaw, hailed his elevation to the top post as "Suu Kyi's victory", a clear nod to her plan for him to serve as a proxy.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won a thumping victory at the polls in November, allowing her party to dominate Myanmar's two legislative houses.  The military remains a powerful force in the Southeast Asian nation and has refused to change a clause in the junta-era constitution that bars Suu Kyi from top political office.

The two other candidates who were also running in Tuesday's presidential election will now become the country's joint vice-presidents. They are retired general Myint Swe, an army-backed candidate who remains on Washington's sanctions list had won 213 votes and ethnic Chin MP Henry Van Thio, who gathered 79 votes.

By Premji