Aung San Suu Kyi

Suu Kyi is constitutionally barred from becoming the president. So legislators in her party are proposing a new job that's formally called "state adviser" — and informally called president's boss.

For the first time in more than a half-century, Myanmar is being governed by civilians, including Aung San Suu Kyi, who is the foreign minister. But the military still has considerable clout.

Prohibited by constitutional rules from seeking her country's top post, former political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi now becomes Myanmar's foreign minister.

U Htin Kyaw is a close ally of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who was barred from running herself by the country's constitution.

The Nobel Peace laureate released a letter Thursday explaining the situation and apologizing for "not fully fulfilling the people's desire" by becoming their president.

The change comes after years of strife — and a weekend of celebration in Myanmar. But by law, Suu Kyi is barred from assuming the presidency.

The results of the country's first free election in 25 years were declared official Friday. The party, led by the Nobel Peace Prize winner, now has a clear path to select the next president.

The country also known as Burma went to the polls on Sunday for the freest elections in decades. Supporters of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy were already celebrating.

The country votes Sunday in its most important election in a quarter-century. The best-known politician is barred from the presidency, but Suu Kyi says she'll be calling the shots if her party wins.