Protesters took to the streets in the capital city of Ulaanbatar

Protesters took to the streets in the capital city of Ulaanbatar on 1 July 2008, angered by early poll results which indicate that Mongolia's ruling party, the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), won the parliamentary election held on 29 June. Demonstrators accuse the MPRP of election fraud and blame the ruling party for recent increases in the price of fuel, flour and meat. Protests began in the capital at approximately 1400 local time. Riot police officers were initially able to contain the crowd, but the number of participants gradually increased, concentrating outside the MPRP facilities just off the central Sukhbaatar Square. The demonstration escalated from approximately 1800 local time, with protesters throwing rocks and bottles at the MPRP office and riot police officers and using fences as battering rams. Police officers responded by firing rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons. According to eyewitnesses, protesters vandalized the MPRP facility and set fire to the first floor of the building. Vehicles were also set on fire near the Ulaanbaatar Hotel, located across from the MPRP office. Additional reports indicate that thousands of protesters have begun breaking into duty free shops in order to get supplies to set on fire. Military and police forces attempted to control the crowd, while fire fighters intervened to put out the blaze. As a result of the violent protest, banks and official buildings have closed throughout the capital. Details regarding the situation in the capital continue to emerge.