Opposition pulls out of Liberia election after vote-rigging claim

Opposition parties in Liberia say they are pulling out of a recent presidential poll which they called “flawed” and say they won’t accept the results.

A statement from eight opposition parties, including those of the second and third-place candidates, say the electoral commission manipulated vote-counting in favour of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

The statement also called for a rally on Sunday but gave no details.

Sirleaf led late Friday with 45.4% of the vote, falling short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff, according to partial results.

The Harvard-educated Sirleaf faced 15 challengers on Tuesday. She is viewed abroad as a reformer and was awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for her role in stabilising Liberia after a 14-year civil war.