NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar, March 27 (UPI) -- Myanmar's leaders staged a military parade Tuesday to display their new capital city, Naypyidaw, to the world.
Naypyidaw, or Abode of Kings, is being built about 300 miles north of the former capital, Rangoon, the BBC reported. Myanmar was formerly known as Burma.
Government employees moved to the new capital 18 months ago, but most outsiders were kept out until Tuesday, when the foreign media were invited to an Armed Forces Day Parade overseen by the country's leader, Gen. Than Shwe.
The BBC described the reclusive general as appearing frail as he told thousands of troops to be on the watch for foreign powers looking to weaken Myanmar, an apparent reference to European and United States efforts to encourage democratic reform.
Naypyidaw has new apartments with reliable utilities for government workers, but it doesn't have shops or restaurants. Many government employees have refused to move their families to the new capital, the BBC reported.
