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Mongolia calls state of emergency Mongolia calls state of emergency
(about 3 hours later)
The president of Mongolia has declared a four-day state of emergency in the capital amid violent protests over claims the general election was rigged.The president of Mongolia has declared a four-day state of emergency in the capital amid violent protests over claims the general election was rigged.
Public gatherings are banned in Ulan Bator during the emergency period. Crowds torched the HQ of Mongolia's governing party - the former Communists - and attacked a police station.
Earlier, police clashed with opposition protesters as they stormed the office of the governing Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party and set it on fire. Over 60 people were hurt - around half of them police - as officers used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon against stone-throwing protestors.
Preliminary results from Sunday's poll give the MPRP a clear victory, but the opposition Democrats allege fraud. The unrest went on into the night, with reports of bank robberies and looting.
The state of emergency, which was announced on state television, came into effect late on Tuesday. Rioters set fire to the Cultural Palace, home to a theatre, museum and national art gallery in the capital, Ulan Bator.
The presidential decree included a 2200 curfew on the streets of the capital, with the threat of arrest for anyone caught in breach of the restriction.
'Robbed of victory''Robbed of victory'
Thousands of people were involved in the protests in Ulan Bator. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas, reports said, as protesters stormed the headquarters of the MPRP. Thousand of protesters defied a 2200 curfew by refusing to disperse.
Prime Minister Sanjagiin Bayar made a television address during which he insisted the election had been both free and fair. The unrest far surpasses previous poll disorder in Mongolia
He said the Democratic Party leader, Tsakhia Elbegdorj, "made a false statement and he is misleading people and inciting violence". Violence erupted as preliminary results from Sunday's poll give the governing Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) a clear victory.
Mr Elbegdorj earlier said the Democrats had been robbed of victory. Returns suggested the ruling MPRP had taken at least 43 seats in the 76-seat parliament, or Great Hural.
"People voted for democracy, ask eight of 10 people and they will say they voted for the Democratic Party," he told reporters. But the opposition Democrats allege fraud.
"If most people voted for us why did we lose? We lost because... corrupt people changed the results," Mr Elbegdorj added. The state of emergency, which was announced in a decree from President Nambaryn Enkhbayar on state TV, came into effect late on Tuesday.
Early results from the election suggest the ruling MPRP had taken at least 43 seats in the 76-seat parliament, or Great Hural. Prime Minister Sanjagiin Bayar made a TV address during which he insisted the election had been both free and fair.
He claimed Democratic Party leader Tsakhia Elbegdorj was "misleading people and inciting violence".
Mr Elbegdorj earlier said the Democrats had been robbed of victory and claimed most voters had chosen his party.
"If most people voted for us why did we lose? We lost because... corrupt people changed the results," Mr Elbegdorj said.
Competing for resourcesCompeting for resources
In the 20th Century, Mongolia's government was modelled on the Communist system of the neighbouring Soviet Union, until 1990 when multi-party politics were introduced. Mongolia's government used to be modelled on the Communist system of the neighbouring Soviet Union, until 1990 when multi-party politics were introduced.
With an economy based on nomadic herding, Mongolia was heavily reliant on support from Moscow, but when this was withdrawn its financial systems quickly collapsed.With an economy based on nomadic herding, Mongolia was heavily reliant on support from Moscow, but when this was withdrawn its financial systems quickly collapsed.
During the difficult intervening period, the former Communists, the MPRP, and the emergent Democratic Party have competed for power.During the difficult intervening period, the former Communists, the MPRP, and the emergent Democratic Party have competed for power.
Four years ago, they were obliged to form a coalition, but in 2006 they broke apart again acrimoniously. Since then the MPRP has hung on to power through alliances with splinter parties. Four years ago, they were obliged to form a coalition, but in 2006 they broke apart again acrimoniously.
Since then the MPRP has hung on to power through alliances with splinter parties.
Despite years of political unease, politics in Mongolia was relatively calm as long as the country was poor, the BBC's David Bamford says.Despite years of political unease, politics in Mongolia was relatively calm as long as the country was poor, the BBC's David Bamford says.
But that has changed, as the previously untapped and considerable mineral wealth of the vast Mongolian plateau starts to be exploited, our correspondent says. But that has changed, as recently unearthed deposits of copper, gold and coal in the vast Mongolian plateau start to be exploited, our correspondent says.
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