Huge crowds gather to cheer Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday, in the Yangon constituency that has propelled her into her first parliamentary seat.<br/> <br />Suu Kyi greeted the boisterous crowd of 10,000 after her National League for Democracy party claimed a by-election landslide.<br/> <br />The event also coincides with Suu Kyi's launch of a foundation that aims to "help the poor, mainly in education and health".<br/> <br />She thanked supporters for helping to raise awareness for her new foundation.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE)(Burmese) NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY PARTY LEADER, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, SAYING:<br/> <br />"The contribution of artists in our programme like that is a very good sign for our country. We define "artists" simply as those expressing art, beauty etc."<br/> <br />Myanmar has for years been the target of sanctions over human rights abuses.<br/> <br />After winning independence - largely due to the efforts of Suu Kyi's late father - a 1962 coup heralded 49 years of unbroken and brutal military rule.<br/> <br />But the junta was dismantled a year ago, transferring power to a quasi-civilian government stacked with former generals.<br/> <br />Now Suu Kyi's NLD Party threatens the balance of power, after taking 43 of 45 seats in the 1st of April by-elections.<br/> <br />Travis Brecher, Reuters
