Myanmar test begins, experts say

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WASHINGTON, April 3 (UPI) -- Through her victory was met with praise, Myanmar faces a true test with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi among its political leaders, analysts say.

Suu Kyi was under long-term house arrest after the military-controlled government refused to recognize the 1990 election victory for her National League for Democracy. Freed from prison in 2010 during sweeping reforms, she won a seat in the country's Parliament in weekend by-elections.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong was quoted by Bloomberg News as saying it was time for the international community to lift sanctions on Myanmar as a reward for political reforms.

A group of U.S. investors led by Chevron, Google and Intel Corp. was quoted as saying there were encouraging signs coming out of Myanmar but caution was needed.

"Resolving political differences will be fundamental to Myanmar's economic development, and to the welfare of its people," they stated.

Suu Kyi before the election expressed some reservations about the political climate in the country. David Steinberg, a Myanmar specialist at Georgetown University, said the 66-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate may be looking to the presidency in 2015, however.

"Now that she's in the Parliament, will she test how far she can go and will that upset people, or will she try to get incremental change?" he told Bloomberg.