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| Liberia opposition denounce poll as 'fraudulent' | Liberia opposition denounce poll as 'fraudulent' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Liberia's main opposition say they are withdrawing from a "fraudulent" presidential election vote-count. | |
| The parties, which include candidates in second and third place so far, said the National Election Commission has manipulated vote-counting in favour of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. | The parties, which include candidates in second and third place so far, said the National Election Commission has manipulated vote-counting in favour of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. |
| Partial results show Mrs Sirleaf leading, but short of the majority needed to avoid a run-off vote. | Partial results show Mrs Sirleaf leading, but short of the majority needed to avoid a run-off vote. |
| The opposition say they will not accept the result if counting goes on. | The opposition say they will not accept the result if counting goes on. |
| An opposition statement said: "We wish to notify the Liberian people of the massive fraud being carried out by the National Elections Commission in the handling and reporting of the presidential election results in favour of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Unity Party." | An opposition statement said: "We wish to notify the Liberian people of the massive fraud being carried out by the National Elections Commission in the handling and reporting of the presidential election results in favour of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Unity Party." |
| The parties said they could offer photographs and witnesses to back their claims. | The parties said they could offer photographs and witnesses to back their claims. |
| "We direct all our party agents assigned at (the electoral commission) in all capacities to withdraw effective immediately," the statement read. "If the process continues we will not accept the results." | "We direct all our party agents assigned at (the electoral commission) in all capacities to withdraw effective immediately," the statement read. "If the process continues we will not accept the results." |
| The latest results published by the electoral commission, with just over half the votes counted, put Mrs Sirleaf on 45.4% of the vote, while her nearest rival, Winston Tubman polled 29.5% and former warlord Prince Johnson on 11.4%. | The latest results published by the electoral commission, with just over half the votes counted, put Mrs Sirleaf on 45.4% of the vote, while her nearest rival, Winston Tubman polled 29.5% and former warlord Prince Johnson on 11.4%. |
| Mrs Sirleaf's Unity Party said it was not surprised by the allegations. | Mrs Sirleaf's Unity Party said it was not surprised by the allegations. |
| "They are doing this thing because it is not going their way," said party secretary-general, Wilmot Paye. | "They are doing this thing because it is not going their way," said party secretary-general, Wilmot Paye. |
| "That's why they want to create chaos." | "That's why they want to create chaos." |
| The National Elections Commission has until 26 October to announce the final results. | The National Elections Commission has until 26 October to announce the final results. |
| Under the rules, if no candidate scores an overall majority, a run-off between the two front runners will be held early next month. | Under the rules, if no candidate scores an overall majority, a run-off between the two front runners will be held early next month. |
| Nobel peace prize | Nobel peace prize |
| This is the first election organised by Liberia's National Elections Commission - the previous one was run by the UN. | This is the first election organised by Liberia's National Elections Commission - the previous one was run by the UN. |
| But 8,000 UN peacekeepers were deployed across Liberia, helping the election to unfold in a quiet atmosphere. | But 8,000 UN peacekeepers were deployed across Liberia, helping the election to unfold in a quiet atmosphere. |
| President Sirleaf, who was first elected in 2005, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last week - a decision denounced by Mr Tubman and other candidates. | President Sirleaf, who was first elected in 2005, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last week - a decision denounced by Mr Tubman and other candidates. |
| Mr Tubman is running under the banner of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) party, with ex-football star George Weah as his running mate. | Mr Tubman is running under the banner of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) party, with ex-football star George Weah as his running mate. |
| Mr Weah was beaten by Mrs Sirleaf in the 2005 poll. | Mr Weah was beaten by Mrs Sirleaf in the 2005 poll. |
| Prince Johnson's forces infamously filmed the torture and murder of dictator Samuel Doe in 1990. | Prince Johnson's forces infamously filmed the torture and murder of dictator Samuel Doe in 1990. |
| After the war, he became a born-again Christian pastor and was elected to the senate in the 2005 poll. | After the war, he became a born-again Christian pastor and was elected to the senate in the 2005 poll. |
| Mrs Sirleaf had said she would only seek a single term but explained her U-turn by saying she wanted to finish the work she had started. | Mrs Sirleaf had said she would only seek a single term but explained her U-turn by saying she wanted to finish the work she had started. |
| While Mrs Sirleaf is well regarded by the international community, some analysts say she is less popular at home. | While Mrs Sirleaf is well regarded by the international community, some analysts say she is less popular at home. |
| Her challengers accuse her of not doing enough to improve the lives of ordinary people, who remain among the poorest in the world. | Her challengers accuse her of not doing enough to improve the lives of ordinary people, who remain among the poorest in the world. |
| Mrs Sirleaf has also been criticised for backing former President Charles Taylor - currently on trial at The Hague for alleged war crimes - when he began his rebellion in 1989. | Mrs Sirleaf has also been criticised for backing former President Charles Taylor - currently on trial at The Hague for alleged war crimes - when he began his rebellion in 1989. |
| The pair later fell out and she apologised for her role, but Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission said she should be barred from holding public office. | The pair later fell out and she apologised for her role, but Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission said she should be barred from holding public office. |
| Liberia is Africa's oldest republic - it was founded in 1847 by freed US slaves, hence its name. | Liberia is Africa's oldest republic - it was founded in 1847 by freed US slaves, hence its name. |