Ex-soccer star, vice president vie in Liberia runoff Tuesday

MONROVIA, Liberia — Liberians head to the polls Tuesday for a runoff election between a former international soccer star and the vice president 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.

The runoff was contested twice in court, with its original Nov. 7 date delayed after the thirdplace Liberty Party filed a complaint of fraud that was dismissed.

Nearly 2.2 million voters have the choice between George Weah, 51, a former soccer star and senator, and Joseph Boakai, 73, who has served as vice president of the impoverished nation for 12 years.

Liberians showed up in large numbers for the firstround election on Oct. 10. Economist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is stepping down after two terms in office that brought the country out of back-to-back civil wars.

Weah draws his support from the younger generation. This is his third time running for the presidency, and 60 percent of Liberia’s population is under 30.

Weah leads the ticket for a coalition party, the Congress for Democratic Change, with Jewel Taylor-Howard as his vice presidential running mate. She is the ex-wife of imprisoned former warlord and President Charles Taylor.

Boakai, who leads the Unity Party, has promised to make road reconstruction the center of his development drive.

He also has promised to create 50,000 jobs in the first 150 days.