Mongolian lawmakers voted to remove the prime minister and parliament speaker on Friday, throwing the resource-rich nation into renewed political turmoil.

Zandanshatar Gombojav stepped down as prime minister after losing the confidence vote just four months after taking office, the official Montsame news agency reported. One reason cited by lawmakers was that Zandanshatar, a former foreign minister and parliamentary speaker, had recently tried to circumvent parliament and appoint a new minister of justice and home affairs without consulting them.

The 55-year-old had been confirmed as the country's 32nd prime minister in June after his predecessor, L. Oyun-Erdene, quit, also after losing parliamentary backing, due to corruption allegations and street protests. Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, Mongolia'

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