Liberian vote highly praised

2005-10-12 13:04

Monrovia - Electoral observers and the United Nations mission in Liberia on Tuesday hailed the day's peaceful and free presidential and legislative polls in the war-ravaged West African country as a step towards reconciliation.

"Liberians voted for peace today," said UN special envoy Alan Doss at the headquarters of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), hours after the closure of more than 3 000 polling stations.

"At all polling places I visited, I was struck by the patience, the determination and the friendliness displayed by all Liberians as they set about exercising this most precious right and responsibility."

Good turnout

There was high turnout among the 1.35 million voters who registered to elect a president from a field of 22 candidates including football icon George Weah and former World Bank economist Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, considered the front-runners and the two most likely to meet in a second round.

Preliminary results were due on Wednesday, said NEC chairperson Frances Johnson Morris, with results to be certified for October 26. If any one candidate fails to earn an absolute majority, a run-off will take place on November 8.

The observers noted some inconsistencies and complaints issued in each county, specifically addressing the long delays that kept thousands of people at their polling places for up to 12 hours.

But Doss marvelled at their patience and reserve, noting "they were not overly fractious as I would have been (in the same situation)".

Voting impressive

Pierre Schapira, deputy mayor of Paris and member of the European parliament, who was observing the elections as part of an European Union delegation, too found the resilience and enthusiasm of the assembled voters to be quite moving.

"I came here with ideas about the Liberia of the past but was quite moved to see how remarkable they were, how calm and tranquil," he said.

"I hope many other African countries take note of what happened here, particularly Liberia's neighbours. It's been a long time since I have seen people so interested in voting; it shows what they suffered during 14 years of war."

- AFP