Laos holds National Assembly elections

Voters in Laos on Sunday cast their ballots in the National Assembly and Provincial People's Council elections.

President Choummaly Sayasone and Vice President and General Secretary of the ruling Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LRPR) Bounnhang Vorachith both voted at polling stations in the capital Vientiane, EFE news reported.

There are reportedly around 600 candidates vying for five-year terms in Sunday's vote.

All candidates are either members of or have been approved by the LPRP, which has ruled the country as a one-party state since 1975.

"I am very happy to have seen people enthusiastically exercising their rights casting their votes for people's representatives so that they can have seats at Assembly and councils. This election is very meaningful to our country," President Sayasone said.

A total of 3.74 million people were eligible to vote.

In the last National Assembly elections in 2011, the LPRP won 128 seats, alongside just four approved, non-partisan candidates.