Police and soldiers in riot gear patrolled downtown sections of Mongolia's capital Friday, the final day of a four-day state of emergency declared following post-election riots that left five people dead and 220 hurt.

Military vehicles were withdrawn from the city's streets Thursday, but the smell of smoke hung in the air over charred buildings that were torched by angry protesters Tuesday.

"Life is steadily getting back to normal," Justice Minister Munk-Orgil said at a briefing Thursday night. "The situation has stabilized dramatically."

More than 700 people remained in detention for questioning over the violence _ the worst since the landlocked Asian nation shook off communism 18 years ago.

The rioting followed an announcement Tuesday that the ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party had retained its parliamentary majority in Sunday's election.

Thousands of protesters clashed with police as they mobbed the headquarters of the MPRP and set it on fire. The mob, mainly composed of young men, also attacked the General Election Commission, ransacked and torched a nearby cultural center, and looted a duty-free liquor store.

The state of emergency _ which ends at midnight Friday _ also included a suspension of all TV channels except for the state broadcaster and a ban on alcohol sales.

Opposition parties have alleged fraud in the election, although the MPRP was leading in surveys before the election and independent electoral observers have said they saw no signs of systematic fraud. The national election commission has until July 10 to announce final results. Continued...