CHRONOLOGY: Election wrangling in Mongolia's lively democracy

(Reuters) - A four-day state of emergency was declared in Mongolia late on Tuesday, after a riot in the capital Ulan Bator over alleged election fraud killed five people.

About 700 protesters were detained in the unrest that followed a general election.

Vast, windswept Mongolia is sandwiched between China and Russia.

Here is a short chronology of Mongolian elections and frequent leadership changes since the country emerged from decades of Soviet influence in 1990.

* 1990: Hunger strikes and anti-government street protests force ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) to hold first democratic elections in July. The ex-communists score resounding victory to become Mongolia's first democratically elected parliament.

* 1992: Second parliamentary election; MPRP wins.

* July 1, 1996: MPRP's more than seven-decade rule ends as the Democratic Union Coalition, an alliance of the two main democratic parties, wins more than half the seats in parliament.

* July 2, 2000: Wave of popular anger against the bitterly divided coalition government and economic measures imposed by the International Monetary Fund sweeps MPRP back to power with 72 of 76 seats in parliament, or Great Hural. Moderate reformer Nambariin Enkhbayar named prime minister.

* May 20, 2001: MPRP hardliner Natsagiin Bagabandi elected president, vows to cooperate with Enkhbayar to maintain reforms.

* April, 2002: Hunger strikers and thousands of others take to the streets of Ulan Bator demanding dismissal of four ministers accused in media reports of corruption and negligence.

* July 24, 2003: Outspoken opposition politician Gundalai arrested on charges of slander against a top government official. Released after a few days in jail following public outcry.

* Sept: Three opposition parties, the Democratic Party, the Civil Courage-Republican Party, and the Mongolian Democratic New Socialist Party form alliance to fight June 2004 election.

* Dec 31: Russia agrees to write-off 98 percent of Mongolia's Soviet-era debt once valued at $11 billion -- considered one of the government's biggest victories.

* June 27, 2004: Unexpected political impasse after MPRP loses majority to opposition in parliamentary election. Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj of the Democratic Party eventually appointed prime minister.

* Jan 2006: Coalition government collapses after the MPRP pulls out in protest at political course. MPRP's Miyeegombiin Enkhbold eventually chosen as new prime minister.

* Nov 2007: Enkhbold forced to resign by party peers fed up with his weak, minority government. MPRP leader Sanjaagiin Bayar takes over a few weeks later.