5 Killed in Mongolian Election Riots

Candidates call for cancellation, cite 'massive fraud'

(NEWSER) - As protesters hit the streets, presidential candidates in Haiti banded together yesterday to demand the election be canceled, citing foul play, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Twelve of the 19 candidates are accusing the outgoing president’s party of “massive fraud.” Protesters—some peaceful, some throwing stones—marched after hundreds of voters said they were barred from voting at polling stations because their names weren’t on rolls. More»

Critics say vote a transparent charade

(NEWSER) - Vote counting has barely begun in Myanmar after the country's first election in 20 years, but critics say the outcome is a foregone conclusion. Reports have been flying of foul play, the Wall Street Journal reports. President Obama criticized the elections as "fundamentally flawed" and urged the junta to release Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. Hillary Clinton criticized the process as well, while Britain's foreign secretary predicted that "they will not be free, fair, or inclusive." More»

(NEWSER) - In a lot of ways, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj looks a lot like another newly elected president. A young, Harvard-educated orator, Elbegdorj rode into power Sunday on a message of change, with most of his support coming from cities. His opponents cried that he was part Chinese. Sound familiar? Elbegdorj isn’t quite the Mongolian Obama—he’s been prime minister twice already—but he’s close, GlobalPost reports. More»

Marketplace fight led to shooting: minister

(NEWSER) - As political street-fighting rages on in Thailand, a gun battle in a residential area of Bangkok has led to the first two deaths, authorities tell the AP. A government spokesman said the encounter was between anti-government protesters and local residents, who were angry over the continuing demonstrations. More than 100 were injured in today’s skirmishes, a medical center reports. More»

(NEWSER) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accepted the recommendation of an independent election commission and will delay the country’s national elections until August out of concern for security and fairness, the Washington Post reports. Karzai's term expires in May, and what will happen in the interim between then and August remains unclear. More»