Burma's Election Commission has given opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi official permission to run in upcoming elections.

The move is seen as a key step towards the country's democratic reforms.

A spokesman for the Nobel Laureate's National League for Democracy party said Monday the commission had approved her candidacy.

Last month, Aung San Suu Kyi announced her intention to run in the April elections, but she was waiting for official approval.

Burma's military-backed civilian government has undertaken a series of dramatic political reforms since taking power last March, including the release of hundreds of political prisoners, the holding of peace talks with ethnic rebels and the allowance of greater press freedoms.

On Sunday, A United Nations human rights envoy said Burma is considering allowing foreign observers to monitor the April elections.

Tomas Ojea Quintana lauded the recent reforms but warned of “a risk of backtracking on the progress achieved thus far.” He said the elections are a “key test” of the regimes commitment to reform.

The by-election is being held to fill 48 parliamentary seats vacated by lawmakers who were appointed to the Cabinet and other posts. Even if the NLD sweeps the polls, it will have minimal power. The 440-seat lower house of Parliament is heavily weighted with military appointees and allies of the former military junta.