LIBERIAN voters waited in snaking queues, hoping yesterday’s presidential balloting would mark an end to a quarter century of coups, despotic rule and fighting that killed tens of thousands.

LIBERIANS are flocking to the presidential campaign of former soccer star George Weah, who has pledged to lead his war-scarred country to peace and development after decades of despots.

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese yesterday gave her strong backing to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan who has faced calls for his resignation.

An immediate daylight curfew was ordered in the Liberian capital Monrovia today after violence and sporadic gunfire broke out the war-shattered city.

RAMPAGES by ex-government fighters left at least nine people dead in Liberia’s capital yesterday and police and residents said all but one of the deaths came in fighting between UN troops and the ex-militiamen.

Businessman Gyude Bryant took office today as leader of Liberia’s interim post-war government, taking up a two-year term meant to guide the devastated country into peace after 14 years of bloodletting by ousted warlord Charles Taylor.

LIBERIA’S week-old peace deal appeared under growing pressure yesterday after a weekend of ceasefire violations and an unconfirmed radio report of a massacre of 1,000 people in the remote and lawless Nimba County.

LIBERIA’S rebels and government yesterday chose a gentle-mannered businessman to lead a transition administration that aims to guide the country out of 14 years of civil war.

Liberia’s rebels and government picked a Monrovia businessman to lead the country’s post-war transition government, delegates told the Associated Press today after a day and night of deliberations.