Myanmar's president reaffirms his vow to hold a "free and fair" election after the country set the date for what many hope will be the most democratic vote in a generation for the former junta-run nation.

Myanmar officials announce November 8 as the date for a historic general election set to be the first contested by Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition in a quarter of a century.

50 soldiers have been killed in three days of fighting between government troops and Kokang ethnic rebels in Myanmar.