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| Mongolia votes in presidential polls amid mining debate | Mongolia votes in presidential polls amid mining debate |
| (1 day later) | |
| Voters in Mongolia go to the polls on Wednesday to elect a president, with mining revenue and the wealth gap topping the debate. | Voters in Mongolia go to the polls on Wednesday to elect a president, with mining revenue and the wealth gap topping the debate. |
| President Tsakhia Elbegdorj of the ruling Democratic Party faces two challengers but is expected to win a second term. | President Tsakhia Elbegdorj of the ruling Democratic Party faces two challengers but is expected to win a second term. |
| Mongolia's economy grew 12% in 2012, mostly due to foreign investment in the mining sector. | Mongolia's economy grew 12% in 2012, mostly due to foreign investment in the mining sector. |
| But most of its three million people live below the poverty line. | But most of its three million people live below the poverty line. |
| Mr Elbegdorj, a former journalist and leader of the peaceful revolution that ended Communist rule in 1990, is seen as the most friendly to foreign investors. | Mr Elbegdorj, a former journalist and leader of the peaceful revolution that ended Communist rule in 1990, is seen as the most friendly to foreign investors. |
| Elected president in 2009, he has also served as prime minister for two terms. | Elected president in 2009, he has also served as prime minister for two terms. |
| His closest challenger is popular former wrestler Badmaanyambuu Bat-erdene from the Mongolian People's Party. | |
| The three-time MP, who holds a law degree, is hoping to capitalise on his popularity to win the top job. | The three-time MP, who holds a law degree, is hoping to capitalise on his popularity to win the top job. |
| The third candidate, female Health Minister Natsag Udval from the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, is a supporter of former President Nambar Enkhbayar. | |
| Mr Enkhbayar was charged with corruption last year and is serving two-and-a-half years in jail. | Mr Enkhbayar was charged with corruption last year and is serving two-and-a-half years in jail. |
| A run-off is scheduled on 10 July between two candidates if no one is able to get more than 50% of the votes. | A run-off is scheduled on 10 July between two candidates if no one is able to get more than 50% of the votes. |
| 'Investor-friendly' | 'Investor-friendly' |
| Mongolia has experienced economic growth over the last few years, credited to investments from foreign firms tapping into large mineral reserves. | Mongolia has experienced economic growth over the last few years, credited to investments from foreign firms tapping into large mineral reserves. |
| But these projects have not been without controversy. | But these projects have not been without controversy. |
| One hot issue in the upcoming polls revolves around how much Mongolia will earn from the $6.2bn (£4bn) Oyu Tolgoi copper mine - one of the world's biggest. | One hot issue in the upcoming polls revolves around how much Mongolia will earn from the $6.2bn (£4bn) Oyu Tolgoi copper mine - one of the world's biggest. |
| Rio Tinto and its partner company, Canada-listed Turquoise Hill Resources, own 66% of the mine, while the Mongolian government owns the rest. | Rio Tinto and its partner company, Canada-listed Turquoise Hill Resources, own 66% of the mine, while the Mongolian government owns the rest. |
| The exports from the mine were scheduled to start this month but this has been delayed for reasons which remain unclear. | The exports from the mine were scheduled to start this month but this has been delayed for reasons which remain unclear. |
| Political commentator Jargalsaikhan Dambadarjaa said mining was important because it was critical to the economy. | Political commentator Jargalsaikhan Dambadarjaa said mining was important because it was critical to the economy. |
| "This is the issue, and because of that people will prefer the current president who is more foreign investment-friendly," he told Agence-France Presse news agency. | "This is the issue, and because of that people will prefer the current president who is more foreign investment-friendly," he told Agence-France Presse news agency. |
| "Mongolians now more and more understand the importance of foreign investment." | "Mongolians now more and more understand the importance of foreign investment." |
| Another election issue is corruption - something which Mr Elbegdorj has pledged to fight "and finish what I already started". | Another election issue is corruption - something which Mr Elbegdorj has pledged to fight "and finish what I already started". |
| But some Mongolians believe the country's mineral wealth is only benefiting a select few. | But some Mongolians believe the country's mineral wealth is only benefiting a select few. |
| Grandmother Shonkhoodoi, 79, said she and her fellow herders have not seen much improvement. | Grandmother Shonkhoodoi, 79, said she and her fellow herders have not seen much improvement. |
| "All of our resources are going to foreign countries, and it's becoming a problem and causing fighting," she told Reuters news agency on Monday. | "All of our resources are going to foreign countries, and it's becoming a problem and causing fighting," she told Reuters news agency on Monday. |
| "I wonder whether the resources are leaving through correct procedures." | "I wonder whether the resources are leaving through correct procedures." |