State of Emergency Declared in Mongolia(1)

2008-07-02 11:11:59 [ Big Normal Small ]    　Comment

Angry protesters clashed with police and stormed the headquarters of the ruling political party alleging fraud in last weekend's parliamentary election, July 1, 2008. [Photo: people.com.cn]

Mongolian President Nambariin Enkhbayar declared a four-day state of emergency in the capital late Tuesday amid violent protests over alleged fraud in the weekend parliamentary elections, state television reported.

The state of emergency came into effect at 11:30 p.m. (1530 GMT) Tuesday. A curfew from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. was also imposed, a presidential decree read out on television said.

The decree also banned public gatherings and independent media broadcasts.

The army has moved into a square in the center of Ulan Bator to boost security, witnesses said.

The declaration of emergency came after thousands of people took to the streets of the capital Tuesday to vent their outrage at alleged rigging in Sunday's parliamentary elections.

Protesters also stormed the headquarters of the ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP).

At least 40 people were injured when protesters clashed with police.

Electoral authorities are yet to release the final results of the vote, but local media reported that the MPRP won more than half the seats in the 76-seat parliament, or Great Hural.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Mongolian Democratic Party, which reportedly won more than 20 seats in parliament, called for a recount of ballots.

Parliamentary elections are held every four years in Mongolia.

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