Opposition candidate wins Mongolia presidential vote

ULAN BATOR: Mongolia's opposition Democratic Party (DP) candidate Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj won the presidential election, authorities said yesterday, in an outcome analysts said could complicate a pivotal mining deal.

With virtually all polling stations reporting, Elbegdorj took more than 51 percent of the vote, while incumbent Nambariin Enkhbayar of the ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) received just over 47 percent, the General Election Committee said.

Enkhbayar's quick admission of defeat, before official results were in, helped the young Central Asian democracy avoid a repeat of the deadly violence that followed allegations of fraud during tightly fought parliamentary elections last summer.