Myanmar military puts its case for hanging on to political power

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (Reuters) - A lawmaker in army uniform gave an impassioned speech before Myanmar's parliament, flaunting the might of the military with a picture slide-show of tanks, heavy weapons and statues of heroic soldiers.

Under debate are changes to a 2008 constitution that would weaken the powerful political stake the military awarded itself before its top brass ended their half-century rule in 2011 to usher in a new era of managed democracy.