Former Myanmar president Thein Sein 'becomes a monk': State media

TheretiredjuntageneralwhosteeredMyanmar'slastfiveyearsofreformshastemporarilybecomeamonk,accordingtostatemedia,daysafterhecededpowertoanewgovernmentledbyAungSanSuuKyi'spro-democracyparty.

Pictureswidelysharedonsocialmediashowedashaven-headedTheinSeinwearinghistrademarkspectaclesanddrapedinthedeepmaroonrobesoftheBuddhistclergy.

MyanmarlanguagestatenewspaperMyanmaAlinnsaidhehadenteredamonasteryinthecentraltownofPyinOoLwinonMondayforafive-daystint,takingthemonktitle"UThandidamma".

"ThoseclosetoUTheinSeinsaidhewillpracticemeditationduringatemporarymonkhoodofaboutfivedays,"thepapersaid.

ItaddedthathehadpromisedBuddhisteldershewouldbeordainedasamonkoncehefinishedhisroleaspresident.

SpendingperiodsinthemonkhoodiscommonforBuddhistmeninMyanmar,whereyoungboysareexpectedtospendatleastthreedaysasnovicesinmonasteriesduringtheirchildhood.

TheinSein,aformerjuntageneral,ledMyanmar'squasi-civiliantransitionalgovernmentthroughfivestunningyearsofreform,asthenationopeneduptotheworldafterdecadesofrepressiveandisolatingarmyrule.

Onlyafewyearsearlierthejuntaledaviolentcrackdownonlargelymonk-ledproteststhatweredubbedthe"SaffronRevolution".

Theunobtrusive70-year-oldhandedpowertoSuuKyiandherproxypresidentHtinKyawlastweek.

Whilenotinparliamentheisexpectedtocontinuetoleadhisarmy-backedparty,nowinoppositionafterSuuKyi'spartywonlandmarkNovemberpollsinalandslide.

(AFP)