Some 15,000 troops took to the echoing parade ground of the military-ruled nation's newly built capital Naypyidaw for Armed Forces Day, marching in the shadow of statues of old Burmese kings and flags bearing army crests.

Senior General Than Shwe, who stood in the morning sun without faltering for about one hour, delivered a speech rebuking countries such as the United States, which have taken the junta to task over human rights and democratic reform.

"Judging from lessons of the history, it is certain that powerful countries wishing to impose their influence on our nation will make any attempt in various ways to undermine national unity," he said.

He also vowed to "crush, hand-in-hand with the entire people, every danger of internal and external destructive elements obstructing the stability and development of the state."

After his 10-minute speech, a medal-bedecked Than Shwe inspected the troops, standing upright out of the sun roof of his stretch Mercedes.

The parade began as the sun rose over Naypyidaw, a city the military secretly carved out of the jungles of central Myanmar.

The arena had an almost festive atmosphere, with smiling generals keen to show off the new capital to foreign media, allowed to travel here for the first time.