Early lead in Liberian presidential election

Liberia’s top female politician took a strong lead over her millionaire football star opponent in early returns from the war-ravaged West African nation’s presidential runoff.

National Election Commission chairwoman Frances Johnson-Morris said that with results in from 33% of polling stations across the country, including the capital, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf had 60.4% of the vote so far. George Weah had 39.6%.

Former AC Milan, Chelsea and Manchester City star Weah claimed poll workers stuffed the ballot boxes in Johnson-Sirleaf’s favour.

Weah has repeatedly been critical of the National Election Commission and Johnson-Morris, who is not related to Johnson-Sirleaf.

“The world is saying this election was free and fair, which was not true,” Weah said, displaying 39 ballots marked for Johnson-Sirleaf that he claimed were among the extra ballots workers had been supplied with.

He said a concerned poll worker had handed the ballots over to his party.

“No Weah! No peace!” supporters chanted at his headquarters.

Alan Doss, head of the UN Mission in Liberia, had declared the vote “peaceful and transparent,” and Johnson-Morris had praised the vote and urged the candidates and the country to accept the results.

Weah, a one-time FIFA player of the year, and Johnson-Sirleaf, a former finance minister, finished first and second in the October 11 first round, which weeded out 20 other candidates, including warlords and rebel leaders.

Yesterday’s run-off was held because no one won an outright majority in the first round.

Weah’s ascent from Monrovia’s slums to international football stardom had earned great appeal in a dirt-poor country short on heroes. He is a high school dropout with no experience in government, but that’s seen as a plus by many in a country long-ruled by coup leaders and warlords.

Johnson-Sirleaf boasts a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University and has a resume full of top postings in government and the United Nations. Her role in past, failed governments is seen as a drawback by some. If successful, she would become Africa’s first elected female president.

Last night, the UN’s Doss said the vote “offered the people of Liberia an opportunity to leave behind the conflict that has devastated this country for so long and turned the page on a very dark chapter in their history.”

About 1.3 million people were registered to vote and the turnout appeared to be lower than the first round, in which Weah took 28% to Johnson-Sirleaf’s 20%. A simple majority had been needed for outright victory.

Founded by freed American slaves in the mid-1800s, Africa’s first republic was once among its most prosperous, rich in diamonds, ancient forests and rubber.

Years of war ended in 2003 when warlord-turned-president Charles Taylor was forced to step down as advancing rebels shelled the capital.

A 15,000-strong UN force was deployed afterward, and now support a transitional government led by Gyude Bryant.