People in Myanmar have voted in the country's first general election in two decades. Most candidates were from two large parties linked to the military while opposition and independent candidates faced obstacles to taking part and complained of voter intimidation. Foreign journalists and monitors have been banned. In total 37 political parties are contesting the election including some pro-democracy groups and many from Myanmar's ethnic minorities. The main opposition force in Myanmar, the National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi has denounced the election as a sham but others are hoping that this election, however flawed, might at least offer the possibility of some kind of military change.