By Irja Halasz
ULAN BATOR (Reuters) - Mongolia's opposition leaderdemanded on Friday a vote recount in 12 areas, in a challengeto preliminary election results that showed the rulingMongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won a majority inparliament.
Allegations of cheating in Sunday's election ledstone-throwing mobs to set the MPRP headquarters on fire, in anight of violence that killed five and prompted the presidentto impose a four-day state of emergency.
"We do need a recount of ballot papers in at least 12disputed constituencies where our candidates may have won,"Democratic Party leader Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj told Reuters.
His demand could dim hopes for stability in the windsweptCentral Asian nation after four years of fractious coalitionrule that has undermined economic growth and held up miningdeals seen as key to lifting the country out of poverty.
The General Election Committee has yet to declare anofficial result, but said an initial count showed the MPRPtaking 47 seats out of 76 in the Great Hural, with 26 seats forthe Democratic Party and the remainder divided between smallerparties.
International observers say the election, in a country thatis seen as a rare example of democracy in Central Asia, waslargely free and fair, and analysts said any irregularitieswould likely not have favoured one major party over the other.
"In my opinion, there could be some electionirregularities, but in total it didn't change the outcome,"said Luvsandendev, of the Sant Maral Foundation, which conductspolling and surveys.
Analysts said it was unclear whether Elbegdorj genuinelybelieved his party had been cheated or whether he was taking abargaining position in the interests of possibly winningcabinet posts for the Democrats in the new government.
A previous election in 2004 resulted in a hung parliamentand troubled coalition rule.
Further political uncertainty could hold up the majormining deals that could unlock the vast reserves of copper,coal, uranium and other resources beneath the country's vaststeppes and deserts, where nomadic herders lead a subsistenceexistence.
The first project likely to go ahead is at Oyu Tolgoi, alsoknown as Turquoise Hill, a copper and gold mine backed byIvanhoe Mines of Canada and Rio Tinto.
All parties were slated to meet together with PresidentNambariin Enkhbayar later on Friday.
"We will definitely discuss how to solve the problem andhow to get out of this situation," Elbegdorj said.
But animosity between the two main parties was runninghigh, with each accusing the other of responsibility forTuesday's riot and the Democratic Party demanding aninvestigation into the deaths, three of which were determinedto have been caused by gunshots.
(Additional reporting by Royston Chan; Writing by LindsayBeck; Editing by Valerie Lee)
