Mongolian riots claim five lives following vote
03/07/2008
Five people have been killed in the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator after clashes broke out between supporters of the country's two main political parties.
Over 300 people were also hurt in the violence, which followed allegations by the opposition Democrats that the ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) had rigged a crucial poll.
Mongolians voted in parliamentary elections on Sunday (June 29th), with the official results suggesting the MPRP had won at least 45 out of 76 seats in the assemblage.
Following that announcement on Tuesday, thousands of opposition supporters immediately gathered on the streets of the capital, setting alight to the ruling party's headquarters and looting government offices.
The police responded by using tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons, but skirmishes continued throughout the day and Justice Minister Munkhorgil has said five people are known to have died.
One of the fatalities is believed to be a Japanese citizen working for a news organisation, the BBC is reporting.
Hinting at a hard-line approach to any further violence, Mr Munkhorgil said people congregating in the streets could expect to meet with opposition from the country's security services.
"Police will use necessary force to crack down on criminals who are looting private and government property," he asserted, adding that a temporary curfew was being brought into effect in Ulan Bator between 22:00 to 08:00.
The latest reports from the Xinhua news agency suggest that peace appears to have been restored to the capital, with soldiers and police maintaining a discrete but visible presence.
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