Sierra Leone president re-elected

President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, credited with helping to end Sierra Leone’s ruthless 10-year-old war, won re-election today in a landmark vote in the conflict-scarred West African nation.

Kabbah headed immediately to a swearing-in ceremony in the capital Freetown after the announcement by the National Electoral Commission.

Kabbah received 70.6% of the vote in Tuesday’s elections well-over the 55% he needed to avoid a runoff.

The second-place candidate, Ernest Koroma of the All Peoples Congress that once governed Sierra Leone, received 22.35%.