Mongolians Decide Fate of Mineral Wealth in Parliamentary Election « VOA Breaking News: "Mongolians are heading to the polls Thursday to elect a new parliament that will be tasked with how to best use the country's massive influx of mineral wealth to help its still poor population.
The resource-rich country boasts the world's fastest growing economy, thanks to a jump in revenue from its still largely untapped gold, copper and iron resources.
But, although Mongolia's economy grew by 17 percent last year, the newfound wealth has so far brought few benefits to the country's 2.8 million people, a third of whom live below the poverty line.
Opinion polls suggest the main opposition Democratic Party has a slight lead over the ruling Mongolian People's Party (MPP) in Thursday's election. Both parties are promising to create funds that would spread the mining profits more evenly throughout society.
The election has been marked by allegations of corruption, with a legal battle taking place between President Elbegdorj Tsakhia and his predecessor, Enkhbayar Nambar."
'via Blog this'
