ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, July 1, 1996 TAG: 9607010108
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ULAN BATOR, MONGOLIA
SOURCE: Associated Press
Mongolia's democratic opposition claimed victory today in parliamentary elections, saying voters had ousted the former communists and ushered in the country's first democratic government.
As early, unofficial results came into the headquarters of the main democratic coalition, jubilant campaign workers and candidates grabbed one another in bear hugs and wiped their eyes.
``Felicitations!'' they shouted.
No official results were immediately available for Sunday's elections. But the democratic coalition said it had won 40 of the 53 districts counted so far, giving it a majority in the 76-seat Great People's Hural.
This Central Asian country has held multiparty balloting since 1990, when it shook off hard-line communism, but this was the most sweeping to date, with more significant participation than ever before by opposition forces.
``Now we'll have a truly democratic government, and we'll improve the lives of the people,'' said Gonchigdorj, leader of the two-party democratic coalition.
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Mongolians line up to register in Hentii provinceby CNBSunday. The former communist party had expected to return to power.