Ulan Bator returning to normal after riots

Mongolian officials cleared away debris left by a night of deadly riots as parliament convened an extraordinary session yesterday to decide how to move forward after violence over alleged election fraud.

The violence that followed Sunday's vote has dampened hopes for a period of stable government to develop the mining sector and tackle inflation in the vast but thinly populated country, strategically located between China and Russia.

"The parliament has debated the declaration of the state of emergency by the president and has approved it," said parliament speaker Lundeejantsan in remarks carried on state television.