Liberians Vote in Second Post-War Election (NEWS BRIEF)

Liberia's National Elections Commission staff loading voting materials on UN helicopters for distribution ahead of the 11 October 2011 elections (PHOTO: UN NEWS CENTER)(HN, October 11, 2011) Liberians lined up to vote on Tuesday in national elections. Today’s polls are the second democratic elections since the end of the decade-long conflict that killed nearly 150,000 people and sent 850,000 others fleeing to neighboring countries.

United Nations peacekeepers remained on standby to help local and law enforcement maintain security during polling

“This is the first time that Liberians are running their own elections,” said Yasmina Bouziane, spokesperson for the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). The previous elections in 2005 were managed by the UN, but this year's polls have been organized by the country's national electoral commission.

“We will be here to assist the Liberian national police who are the first and frontline for response to any incidents,” Bouzaine said in an interview with UN Radio yesterday.

Sixteen candidates, including the incumbent Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, are vying for the presidency and many voters arrived at polling stations overnight to be among the first to cast their ballots in closely-fought presidential poll.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is facing tough competition for a second term, with her stiffest competition coming from a ticket that includes football (soccer) star George Weah.

Weah came in second in 2005, and is currently running for vice president alongside Winston Tubman, who, like Sirleaf, is a Harvard graduate.

President Sirleaf, who just days ago received the Nobel Peace Prize, is charged, by the opposition as having failed to repair the ravages of war or bring down high levels of poverty and unemployment.

Her supporters say she has been successful in maintaining peace and erased billions of dollars in foreign debt.  

Opponents also criticize Sirleaf for her support of warlord and former President Charles Taylor during Liberia’s civil war.

Sirleaf has come under fire for ignoring last year’s recommendations by Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission that she should be banned from public office for 30 years for her support of Taylor. The Liberian leader has acknowledged financing to Taylor and says she ceased when she became aware of his brutal tactics.

Liberia’s election commission says it will begin releasing initial results on Wednesday, and has plans to announce the final results on October 26. A run-off will be held if no candidate wins an outright majority vote.

- HUMNews Staff