(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Liberian former international footballer George Weah and Vice President Joseph Boakai joined voters in casting their ballots yesterday as they went head-to-head in a delayed run-off vote for the country's presidency.
Voters were choosing a successor to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is stepping down after 12 years as Africa's first elected female head of state.
Observers warned that turnout appeared to be low in the vote, which aims to achieve the war-torn West African country's first democratic transition since 1944.
The ballot was delayed for seven weeks due to legal challenges lodged by Boakai's Unity Party against the electoral commission over the conduct of the first round of voting. Weah, 51, starred in top-flight European football teams Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan in the 1990s before playing briefly in England for Chelsea and Manchester City later in his career.
He and Boakai voted in polling stations near their homes in Paynesville, a suburb of Monrovia, the capital of this nation of 4.6mn people. Both declared victory was theirs for the taking. 'We're going to win because the people believe in us and they know we represent the best, said Boakai, a public servant of four decades' standing.
But Weah was resolute that his second run for the presidency would be successful after 12 years spent building a political reputation to match his popularity.
'Victory is certain. I am sure that I am going to win, he told journalists after casting his ballot.
The choice of December 26 for voting day has proved to be a dampener for turnout in the west African nation, said the European Union's chief observer Maria Arena, speaking in the early afternoon.'Turnout seems to be lower than in the first round, she said.
'We are seeing fewer long lines and less waiting...though we will probably see more people arriving later in the day, Arena added, as those sleeping off Christmas celebrations headed to vote.Boakai waged a bitter legal battle over problems with queue control and voter identification in the October 10 first round.
Yesterday polling stations displayed voter lists as a mark of transparency.
The EU's chief observer said staff were 'better trained for the run-off.
Weah alleges that electoral fraud cost him the presidency in 2005 and the vice-presidency in 2011. His CDC party contested those results but has refrained so far this time, though after voting yesterday, Weah warned that 'what happened in 2005 and 2011 cannot be repeated. Boakai also sounded a cautionary note, saying he would accept the result provided the National Elections Commission (NEC) met 'all of the standards.
Results are expected in the next few days, according to the electoral commission.
Weah topped the first round of voting with 38.4 % while Boakai came second with 28.8%. That triggered a run-off as neither made it past the 50% needed to win outright. Whoever wins faces an economy battered by lower commodity prices for its main exports of rubber and iron ore, and a rapidly depreciating currency.
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