Up to 6,000 people took to the streets Tuesday after the results of Sunday's elections were announced with the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) claiming to have won at least 44 seats in the country's 76-seat parliament, the Great Hural. The opposition Democratic Party has won 21 seats.
Following Tuesday's riots, President Nambaryn Enkhbayar announced a four-day state of emergency after protesters set fire to cars, attacked government buildings, shops and tried to steal weapons from a police station.
A total of 1,800 police were involved in trying to maintain order but were forced to use rubber bullets and water cannons after the crowd set fire to the headquarters of the ruling party's building. Over 700 people have been arrested and 108 police were injured in the clashes.
Riots were also reported in the easternmost province of Dornod and the northern province of Bulgan.
The official election results have not yet been announced.
Moscow expressed concern over the riots in Mongolia and called on the country's political forces to show restraint and responsibility.
"We are convinced that the existing disagreement could and should be solved within the framework of the country's constitution," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
An informed source in Mongolia claimed that the rioters had been paid to take part in the protests.
"Some rioters were paid up to one million togrogs [$1,000]," the source said, adding that a duty free liquor shop was among the first building to be attacked by the crowd.
