Huge crowds gather to cheer Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday, in the Yangon constituency that has propelled her into her first parliamentary seat.

Suu Kyi greeted the boisterous crowd of 10,000 after her National League for Democracy party claimed a by-election landslide.

The event also coincides with Suu Kyi's launch of a foundation that aims to "help the poor, mainly in education and health".

She thanked supporters for helping to raise awareness for her new foundation.

(SOUNDBITE)(Burmese) NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY PARTY LEADER, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, SAYING:

"The contribution of artists in our programme like that is a very good sign for our country. We define "artists" simply as those expressing art, beauty etc."

Myanmar has for years been the target of sanctions over human rights abuses.

After winning independence - largely due to the efforts of Suu Kyi's late father - a 1962 coup heralded 49 years of unbroken and brutal military rule.

But the junta was dismantled a year ago, transferring power to a quasi-civilian government stacked with former generals.

Now Suu Kyi's NLD Party threatens the balance of power, after taking 43 of 45 seats in the 1st of April by-elections.

Travis Brecher, Reuters