Liberia’s Johnson-Sirleaf ahead on early vote count

14/10/11 06:03 CET

world news

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Partial results from Liberia’s second presidential poll since a civil war have put newly-named Nobel Peace laureate Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in the lead.

The incumbent, Johnson-Sirleaf has won nearly 45 per cent of the votes counted so far, well ahead of her nearest rival, ex-UN diplomat Winston Tubman.

But the first tally points to her falling short of the overall majority she needs to avoid a second round run-off.

Observer groups say they have received no reports of trouble during the election. It is seen as a test of Liberia’s progress since the 1989-2003 civil war which killed nearly a quarter of a million people and left infrastructure in ruins.

More about: Liberia, Nobel Prize, Presidential elections

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Mali: Rebel groups agree to creation of Islamic state

Two Rebel groups have agreed to merge and create an independent Islamic state in Northern Mali. After seizing Azawad – an area larger than France – two months ago, the groups had initially disagreed, with the secular Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA)…