Mongolia votes in key elections

Voters started queuing well before polling stations opened, many riding into villages on camel and horseback to cast their votes.

Mongolia's potential mineral wealth has been a campaign issue, with the two biggest parties both promising cash payments from big mining projects.

A recent survey suggested inflation had outstripped unemployment and corruption as ordinary Mongolians' main concern.

More than 1,800 polling stations opened on Sunday morning. In towns they have been set up inside schools, libraries and gymnasiums.

In the remote countryside voting is taking place inside gers, tent-like structures that nomads use as a home.

The gers are visited by nomads, some of whom have ridden up to 30km on camel and horseback to cast their votes.