The Associated Press reports that,
ULAN BATOR, Mongolia (AP) — Opposition lawmakers walked out of a Mongolian parliamentary session Wednesday before they were to be sworn in, saying they refused to participate because last month’s election was fraudulent.
Accusations that the ruling Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party rigged the June 29 poll led to rioting in the capital of the fledgling democracy that left five dead, 300 injured, and hundreds detained.
The violence prompted President Nambaryn Enkhbayar to declare the country’s first-ever state of emergency.
“This parliament, which was elected by unfair election and legalizing injustice, cannot work for the sake of Mongolia. Therefore, we are pulling out of this new parliament,” said lawmaker Tsakhilganiin Elbegdorj, chairman of the Mongolian Democratic Party.
Sixty-six newly elected lawmakers were to be sworn in during the ceremony, but 25 Democrats walked out after the session opened. That left 39 MPRP lawmakers, 1 Civil Will party member and 1 independent, less than the three-fourths needed to be present for the inauguration to be carried out.
Enkhbayar, a member of the MPRP, appealed to party leaders to cooperate so the new parliament can begin work.
As he opened the session, he defended the vote, which was focused on how to share the country’s mineral wealth. “As president, I don’t consider that the 2008 parliamentary election was unfair,” he said.
Elbegdorj called for charges against the head of the General Election Commission, as well as amnesty for the 200 people arrested on charges of vandalism, looting and burning.
“Through amnesty of these people, reconciliation in Mongolia will begin. Many of these people did not realize consequences of their actions and their actions were not premeditated,” he said.
The MPRP has long been dogged by allegations of corruption and misconduct by officials and is unpopular in the capital.
Election fraud allegations were originally centered on two districts in the capital of Ulan Bator that were awarded to the ruling party but were contested by two popular members of the Civic Movement party.
Protesters later called the entire election into question, with opposition Democrats saying that their party won the poll.
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