Myanmar President Thein Sein on Wednesday made his first public appearance since the start of campaigning for Nov. 8 general elections, meeting leaders of ethnic minority guerrilla groups for cease-fire talks in the capital Naypyitaw.
Clinching a deal with rebel groups would be a political win for Thein Sein, who made it his top priority, boosting the chances of his ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party in the first general elections since the end of military rule.
But a deal with all ethnic armies is unlikely, experts say, with some groups excluded from the talks, as fighting in the restive Kokang region along Myanmar's border with China has continued unabated since February.
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