African leaders today hailed the election of the continent’s first-ever female president, calling the victory of Liberia’s Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf a watershed for African women.

UN forces fired tear gas and used batons to beat back rock-throwing supporters of a soccer-star candidate who claims his Harvard-educated female rival stole Liberia’s presidential runoff.

UN FORCES fired tear gas at angry supporters of Liberian soccer star George Weah yesterday after they stoned police and marched to the US embassy to demand a halt to counting in an election Weah says was rigged.

The football superstar turned presidential candidate called for a halt today in vote counting that had him heading for defeat in war-ravaged Liberia, but also urged his angry supporters to remain calm.