Myanmar ruling party meets to map out its future

NAYPYIDAW AFP) - Myanmar's ruling party opened a crunch meeting on Sunday to revamp its leadership and chart a new course for the army-backed group after a by-election drubbing by Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy opposition.

The Union Solidarity and Development Party gathered in the capital Naypyidaw as it looks towards a 2015 election that many expect to be the greatest litmus test of reforms that have swept the country under the current quasi-civilian regime.

President Thein Sein, who greeted delegates at the start of the three-day conference, stepped down as party chief to take office last year and the post has since remained vacant.

Members are expected to select a new leadership as part of their efforts to map out the party's strategy.