The decision by Myanmar military junta to dissolve the party of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and dozens of others has drawn international condemnation.

The US government criticized the decision to abolish 40 political parties including the National League for Democracy.

US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters "Any election without the participation of all stakeholders in Burma would not be and cannot be considered free or fair."

The State Department spokesperson said Washington continues to support efforts to establish democracy in Myanmar.

Myanmar's military announced on Tuesday that the NLD would be dissolved as it had failed to meet a deadline to register for elections.

The NLD won the 2020 general election, but the military alleged voting irregularities and seized power in a coup early the next year.

Japan's Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing ''serious concern". It said the further exclusion of the NLD will ''make it even more difficult to improve the situation.'' It also called on the Myanmar military to immediately release NLD leaders.

Britain and Australia also condemned the junta for increasing repression of people's democratic rights.

The NLD said in a statement that the junta's actions were a breach of the law. It added that the election commission controlled by the military had no right to dissolve lawfully established political parties.