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Mongolian poll results upheld despite protests

03/07/2008

Allegations of vote-rigging and corruption have been rejected by the Mongolian electoral commission after it awarded a comfortable win to the country's ruling party.

The results of the recent parliamentary poll were announced live on state television on Thursday, days after thousands of protestors took to the streets of the capital Ulan Bator.

Up to 8,000 supporters of the opposition Democratic party demonstrated against the official results on Tuesday, leading to five deaths and hundreds of injuries.

Protestors attacked cars and buildings with rocks and set fire to the headquarters of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary party (MPRP), which previously presided over 70 years of one-party rule prior to the democratic transition seen in the 1990s.

Democratic party leader Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj has rejected the official version of parliamentary results, which awarded a 47-seat majority to the MPRP in the 76-seat lower house.

"I am deeply saddened that this vote was stolen," he told the AFP news agency.

"It was stolen and there needs to be a recount. The result is false."

Mongolian president Nambaryn Enkhbayar, the leader of the MPRP, has already declared a state of emergency in the country, but reports on the ground said calm had returned to the capital on Thursday.

A large security presence including police and soldiers remains deployed, however.