More than 100 protesters arrived in the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar, from Sukhbaatar Province in the north of the country, travelling by Toyota 'Prius' cars for a meeting with the Prime Minister. They are protesting regarding one controversial seat on the Citizens' Representative Khural of the Sukhbaatar Province. According to the demonstrators, Ms. P.Munkhjargal from the Democratic Party won this seat during last June's general election, however, the Sukhbaatar Provincial Administration has still have not approved her. The Citizens' Representative Khural of the Sukhbaatar Province has 33 seats; in the election the  Democratic Party and the Mongolian People’s Party both took 16 seats.

The protesters drove to the capital from  the 13 Soums (districts) of the Sukhbaatar Province in a convoy consisting of 20 Toyoya 'Prius' vehicles. The cars all parked outside the Mongolian Stock Exchange on the west side of Ulaanbaatar's central Sukhbaatar Square – literally a stone's throw from Government House. Prime Minister J.Erdenebat held a meeting with them earlier today (5^th of May) to discuss the case of P.Munkhjargal.

Politics and demonstrations aside – the convoy has provided excellent publicity for the Toyota 'Prius'! The Japanese automobile manufacturer launched the 'Prius' in December 1997 as a fully-hybrid vehicle. It has fared well over the last twenty years as a four-door sedan, and, since 2003, as a five-door hatchback. It certainly has a good following in Sukhbaatar Province!