YANGON: Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi`s party on Wednesday protested against its dissolution by authorities in the military-ruled country for its boycott of the first election in 20 years.

State media, quoting the election commission, reported late Tuesday that the National League for Democracy had been abolished under controversial poll rules for failing to re-register ahead of the November 7 vote.

Although the dissolution automatically took effect in May it was the first time that authorities have formally announced the ban on the NLD, along with nine other parties.

"The commission has no right or authority over the organisations which did not register with them," the NLD`s long-time spokesman Nyan Win told reporters at the party`s headquarters.

The NLD had not committed any breach of the 1988 political party registration law, under which it was formed, that would warrant its dissolution, he added.

The party opted to boycott the upcoming election due to new rules that would have forced it to expel its own leader and other members who are serving prisoners in order to participate.

The vote has been widely condemned by activists and the West as a charade aimed at putting a civilian face on military rule.

Nobel Peace Laureate Suu Kyi has spent most of the past 20 years in detention, and as a serving prisoner is barred from standing in the poll.

The NLD -- which won a landslide victory in 1990 but was never allowed to take office -- is planning to sue the government over its dissolution and the previous unrecognised poll win.

"This process is still ongoing," Nyan Win said. "We will carry on through peaceful political means."

Four other parties were also dissolved for failing to re-register while five more -- out of 42 that were initially allowed to run -- were abolished because they failed to meet requirements on fielding candidates.

Opposition parties have faced formidable hurdles, including a fee of 500 dollars per candidate -- the equivalent of several months` wages for most people -- and a tight timetable to register people to stand.

The National Democracy Force, a breakaway opposition party created by former NLD members, is among those planning to contest the vote, a decision that put it at odds with Suu Kyi, who was in favour of a boycott by the NLD.

BDST: 1842 HRS, September 15, 2010