Weah drops poll fraud charges
2005-12-21 19:39
Monrovia - The loser in Liberia's first post-war presidential elections on Wednesday dropped his legal challenge against the results, saying he would accept the outcome in the interest of national reconciliation.
Former international soccer superstar George Weah said he decided not to pursue his vote-tampering allegations to Liberia Supreme Court "based on our desire to see the Liberian people achieve durable and genuine peace and have the opportunity to carry on the business of national recovery and redemption".
Asked if he accepted the results of the November ballot, he replied: "Yes, the country needs to move forward."
Weah's post-election allegations of fraud - in a vote that international observers deemed largely clean - sparked riots in the capital, Monrovia.
On Wednesday, he sounded a conciliatory note, pleading for peace in a country still reeling from a brutal 1989 to 2003 civil war that killed 200 000.
"I will go on my knees and ask the Liberian people to participate in bringing peace and stability to our country," said Weah.
The national election commission already ruled Weah's fraud claims unfounded and by dropping his court appeal Weah cleared the final hurdle ahead of the January 16 inauguration of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who's slated to become Africa's first-ever elected female president.
Johnson-Sirleaf wasn't immediately available for comment.
Weah has come under heavy fire from other West African leaders who have expended enormous amounts of time, money and manpower brokering Liberia's new peace and arranging a military force to secure it.
- AP