Voting began on Sunday in Myanmar's general election, with the ruling military government touting the exercise as a return to democracy five years after it ousted the last elected administration.

Former civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains jailed, while her party has been dissolved and was not taking part.

The pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party is widely expected to emerge as the largest one, in what critics say would be a rebranding of martial rule.

The country has been riven by civil war and there will be no voting in rebel-held areas.

In territory controlled by the military government, the first of three rounds started at 6am local time, including in constituencies in the cities of Yangon, Mandalay and the capital Naypyidaw.

The general election is scheduled to be held in three phases, with the second phase set for January 11, followed by the third phase on January 25.

The poll will cover a total of 692 constituencies.

About 5,000 candidates from 57 political parties are competing for seats in the Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House), Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House), and State and Region Hluttaws (State and Region Parliaments).

The election will produce the elected members of the Union Parliament (Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw) and State and Region Parliaments; the new Union Parliament will then elect a new president, who will form a new Union Government.

According to the Union Election Commission, a total of 21,517 polling stations have been set up for the election. (AFP/Xinhua)