Mongolia under curfew as poll 'fraud' triggers riots

Soldiers and armoured vehicles guarded Mongolia's capital yesterday, a day after at least five people died in rioting sparked by allegations of election fraud.

President Nambaryn Enkhbayar declared a four-day state of emergency after thousands of rock-throwing protesters clashed with police as they mobbed the headquarters of the ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) and set it alight.

The 8,000 demonstrators also attacked the General Election Commission, demanding officials resign.

Mr Enkhbayar, a member of the MPRP, acknowledged the fraud allegations but appealed for calm. Police imposed an overnight curfew on Tuesday and city centre streets were nearly deserted last night.

Armoured vehicles blocked major road junctions and groups of soldiers stood guard, rifles at the ready.

Others patrolled the streets but there were no immediate signs of tension. Shops were open and tourists wandered freely. Montsame, Mongolia's national news agency, said on its website that five people died in Tuesday's violence in which police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to beat back rioters wielding bricks and iron rods. The report did not say how they died. An art gallery and government buildings were said to have been looted.

There were 220 people injured in the unrest, including a Japanese reporter, Montsame said.

A Foreign Ministry official said about 1,000 people had been detained following the violence.