YANGON, May 4, 2008 (AFP) - Myanmar's military government will on Saturday hold a referendum on its proposed constitution, ahead of multi-party elections promised by the generals for 2010.

The 194-page document was released to the public on April 9, the same day the junta announced the date for the vote.

Critics say the charter gives the military a dominant role in politics while barring democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from elections.

Here are the main points of the new charter:

The new constitution will take effect once a parliament convenes following elections in 2010.

Detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be blocked from running for president by a clause that bars candidates married to foreigners. She was married to Briton Michael Aris, who died in 1999.

Another clause requires the president to be 'well-acquainted' with military affairs.

Parliament will have two chambers, and one quarter of the seats in each would be reserved for serving officers appointed by the commander-in-chief.

The People's Parliament lower house will have 440 seats for elected representatives, while the National Parliament upper house will have 224 representatives from ethnic groups and Myanmar's states.

Top democracy activists who have served prison terms for opposing the regime would be barred from running because of their criminal records.

Candidates and parties are barred from receiving support from foreign governments or religious groups.

Three ministries -- home affairs, defence and border affairs -- will be controlled exclusively by the military.

Changing the constitution requires approval from 75 percent of MPs, making it difficult for civilian lawmakers to pass amendments without military support.

Six of Myanmar's more than 130 ethnic minority groups would receive 'self-administrative' regions in border areas where ethnic rebels have battled the government for decades.

The commander-in-chief can take over the government during a state of emergency, which can be declared to fight insurgencies but also to prevent 'disintegration of national solidarity.'

Myanmar will have a market economy, and will not nationalise businesses.

The new city of Naypyidaw, in central Myanmar, officially becomes the capital. The president administers the capital territory directly.