Liberia votes to pick Sirleaf’s successor

MONROVIA ( liberia): Young Liberians went straight from allnight Christmas celebrations to the polls for a runoff election between a former international soccer star and the vicepresident to replace Africa’s first female head of state.

For the first time in more than 70 years, the West African nation founded by freed American slaves will see one democratically elected government hand power to another.

Nearly 2.2 million voters have the choice between 51yearold former soccer star and senator George Weah and 73yearold Joseph Boakai, who has been vicepresident for 12 years.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, 79, is stepping down after two terms in office.

The runoff had been contested twice in court amid claims of irregularities, with its original Nov 7 date delayed.

The firstround Oct 10 election brought high numbers of voters, and officials hoped yesterday’s vote would be no different. The National Elections Commission has said voter lists have been cleaned up according to Supreme Court orders. They have been posted at all 5,390 voting places.

Many people showed up at polling stations before the sun rose. In the New Georgia township west of the capital, Monrovia, voters used flashlights to check for their names.

“We need a leader who will move the country forward, not backward,” said 32yearold Samuka Donzo, who sat in line in a classroom chair.

“Liberia is too hard now; we need a leader who will make things cheaper so that we don’t have to continue to rely on neighbouring countries for basic commodities.” — AP