An "unprecedented" government investigation and demands to punish coal thieves in Mongolia

 Mongolia's Prime Minister Uyun Erdyn Lovsanamsaray met protesters in freezing temperatures, in an effort to quell public anger over the disappearance of $120 million worth of coal.

Bloomberg News reported that the prime minister met protesters on Wednesday to demand that the crowds trust the government to investigate and punish the "coal thieves".

Citizens have been demonstrating since last Sunday in the capital to protest against the reported loss of 385,000 tons of coal from warehouses on the border with China.

Oyun Erden told the crowd that he had set up a government commission of inquiry of "unprecedented" size to investigate allegations of coal theft, vowing to punish those responsible.

He also accused the crowd of "inviting chaos" and made it clear that the government was working to improve the economy.

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