Liberia's Sirleaf warns on poll violence

2011-08-20 07:06

Monrovia - Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf warned on Friday that political violence could spark a slide back into the civil conflict which devastated the country, after recent attacks on politicians.

In a statement posted up on her website, Sirleaf warned that politically motivated violence was creeping into the country's electoral process, just days before a constitutional referendum ahead of an October presidential election.

"Violence against, and intimidation of, political actors and individuals undermine and destroy democracy," said the 72-year-old who is seeking a second term in office in the west African nation, where she was elected in 2005, after two successive civil wars ended in 2003.

"Such conduct is the beginning of anarchy, and if not deterred, such conduct could reverse the political gains we have made and probably cost our country to retrogress into another civil conflict."

On Sunday, Senator Geraldine Doe-Sheriff, chairman of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change, was attacked by angry members after disputed election primaries, local media reported.

"Shortly thereafter was the arson attack on Mr. Eugene Nagbe, Deputy Campaign Manager of the (ruling) Unity Party, the burning of his car in his yard in the middle of the night," Sirleaf said.

She said the violence was clearly politically motivated and would be investigated.

"The National Elections Commission should seize itself of the unfolding politically motivated violence and intimidation that are creeping into the electoral process at this early stage," she added.

Presidential and legislative polls on October 11 will be the second since the end of the brutal warfare which left more than 200 000 dead by 2003.

- SAPA