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    October 15, 2011

8 Opposition Parties Pull Out of Liberian Election

   VOA News
   Polling agents count ballots for the Liberian presidential election at
   a polling station in Monrovia, October 11, 2011.
   Photo: Reuters
   Polling agents count ballots for the Liberian presidential election at
   a polling station in Monrovia, October 11, 2011.

   Eight Liberian opposition parties say they are pulling out of the
   country's recent presidential election, claiming the vote counting
   process is fraudulent and undemocratic.
   In a statement Saturday, the parties said election officials have
   manipulated the results in favor of incumbent President Ellen Johnson
   Sirleaf, who is leading in the latest results released Friday.
   Those pulling out include Sirleaf's top rival Winston Tubman, who is in
   second place, and the third-place challenger, former rebel leader
   Prince Johnson.
   Election officials said Friday that Sirleaf was ahead with more than 45
   percent of the vote. Tubman had less than 30 percent, and Johnson about
   11 percent.
   Election observers from the Economic Community of West African States
   have said the October 11 vote was largely free and fair, and that
   ballot counting is proceeding smoothly. The U.S.-based Carter Center
   noted only minor irregularities.
   In related news, Liberian police say an office occupied by the
   country's ruling party was set on fire Saturday in the capital,
   Monrovia. No injuries were reported, and police are investigating the
   incident.
   Liberia's electoral commission has until October 26 to announce final
   results.
   Johnson's supporters could vote for either of the top two candidates if
   a second-round election is needed on November 8.
   Johnson said he is not in rush to make a decision on which of the two
   front-runners to support. He said after consulting with his supporters,
   he will stand behind the candidate that offers his party a more
   influential role in the government.
   The vote was Liberia's second national election since the end of a
   14-year civil war in 2003.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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