Mongolian opposition demands PM's resignation

The Mongolian opposition has demanded the dismissal of Prime Minister Norov Altanhuyag, claiming he violated the country's constitution.Twenty-five lawmakers from the Mongolian People's Party (MPP) submitted a letter demanding Altanhuyag's dismissal to Speaker Zandaakhuu Enkhbold on Friday.The letter said, since the establishment of the new government eight months ago, the country's economy had deteriorated, inflation had increased and foreign investment fallen. It also claimed cronyism was rampant among government officials.The prime minister illegally appointed many top officials and dismissed many professional government workers and replaced them with Mongolian Democratic Party members and their relatives," MPP chairman Ulziisaikhan Enkhtuvshin said.He said Altanhuyag, accompanied by a large number of people, went to worship a mountain on a personal tour and endangered his entourage's lives during a snow storm."Finding the prime minister led to the waste of millions of tugrug (Mongolia's currency), this is a very unethical act. For all these, Altanhuyag should be dismissed," Enkhtuvshin said.Enkhbold said the demand would be discussed by the parliament's standing committee next week.Under Mongolia's laws and procedures, the issue is to be reviewed by the parliament's standing committee first and then discussed by a full parliamentary session within 14 days.