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    October 16, 2011

Liberian Opposition Calls off Election Boycott

   VOA News
   National Elections Commission Chairman James Fromayan (C) delivers the
   first results of Liberia's presidential election during a news
   conference in Monrovia, October 13, 2011.
   Photo: Reuters
   National Elections Commission Chairman James Fromayan (C) delivers the
   first results of Liberia's presidential election during a news
   conference in Monrovia, October 13, 2011.

   Liberia's opposition parties say they will participate in a
   second-round presidential vote, despite rejecting the first-round
   results.
   Second-place candidate Winston Tubman and other members of the
   opposition said Sunday they will call off a boycott since the
   preliminary results show no candidate has won the outright majority
   needed to avoid a run-off.
   But they cautioned the National Election Commission to be careful to
   avoid any fraud in the next round of voting, scheduled for November 8.
   According to the most recent figures, incumbent President Ellen Johnson
   Sirleaf is in the lead after last week's poll, with around 45 percent
   of the vote. Tubman has about 31 percent, and former rebel leader
   Prince Johnson about 11 percent.
   In a statement Saturday, eight Liberian opposition parties said
   election officials had manipulated the results in favor of incumbent
   President Sirleaf.
   Liberia's Election Commission has not responded directly to claims of
   fraud. It is calling on all parties to make complaints through proper
   legal channels.
   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.
   Liberia's electoral commission has until October 26 to announce final
   results of the first round of voting.
   The vote was Liberia's second national election since the end of a
   14-year civil war in 2003.

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