Mining dominates election

The elections come as mining companies prepare to begin digging for iron and rare earths in the region.

All major parties in the 31-seat Parliament favour exploiting some of the territory's natural resources to reduce Greenland's dependence on former colonial master Denmark.

But at issue is the cost to the environment and the traditional Inuit way of life.

The opposition Siumut party has accused Premier Kuupik Kleist of moving too fast, saying he rushed through a law to allow mining projects to import labour from abroad.

Britain-based London Mining is planning an iron mine 100 miles north-east of the capital Nuuk. The company expects to extract 15 million tons of iron ore annually for at least 15 years, while Australian miner Greenland Minerals and Energy is planning a rare-earths mine.

Greenland has big rare-earths deposits but they can't be exploited unless the government lifts its ban on mining for radioactive elements.

While other parties are ready to drop the ban, Mr Kleist's governing Inuit Ataqatigiit party (IA) wants to keep it - at least until the consequences have been thoroughly assessed.

"No matter how 'well behaved' a mining company is, tailings from radioactive materials linger for hundreds of thousands of years," said IA MP Naaja Nathanielsen.

Greenland's autonomy was expanded four years ago.

Denmark will reduce its 3.3 billion kroner (£386 million) annual subsidy once the autonomous territory starts making profits from resource extraction.

The subsidy accounts for about two-thirds of Greenland's economy.