Myanmar moves to amend constitution

YANGON, Feb 06 (Reuters): Myanmar's parliament on Wednesday voted to set up a committee to discuss amending the country's constitution, despite objections by military-aligned lawmakers against a move that is likely to challenge the army's power.

Aung San Suu Kyi's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) submitted an "emergency proposal" last week aimed at amending parts of the military-drafted 2008 constitution that the party deems undemocratic.

It was the Nobel laureate's biggest challenge to the military's power in nearly three years, and sparked a protest in the legislature from green-glad army appointees, who stood in silence for several minutes to show their opposition.

The move comes as both civilian and military leaders face growing international pressure over an army crackdown on Rohingya Muslims in 2017 that sent about 730,000 people fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh.

In a vote among members of both houses of parliament, 414 out of 611 voting lawmakers were in favor of setting up the committee.

Suu Kyi's party commands a large majority in the combined Union Parliament.