NAYPYITAW, Myanmar - Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has taken her political challenge to the gates of her rivals with campaign rallies in the remote, military-dominated capital.

Suu Kyi told crowds Monday in two of the four constituencies being contested in Naypyitaw that she was encouraged they had gathered at cleared fields on the outskirts of the capital.

The four seats were vacated by members of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party when they were named to senior government positions, including President Thein Sein.

The candidates of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy running in the capital in the April 1 byelections are all veteran activists who face a rough struggle in an area dominated by civil servants.