New York, US - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday congratulated Liberians for exercising their right to vote in the presidential run-off election earlier this month, commending the country’s authorities for conducting free, fair and transparent polls.

In a UN statement, made available to PANA in New York, Ban deplored the violence which took place the day before the poll, which was held on 8 November, and welcomed the creation of a Special Independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the incident.

It stated: ``The Secretary-General calls upon the Liberian stakeholders to accept the outcome of the elections and to work together to resolve any outstanding issues.

'He emphasizes the importance of a continued dialogue on national reconciliation.'

PANA recalled that the Liberia’s National Electoral Commission declared incumbent President, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the winner of the run-off poll after garnering more than 90 per cent of the vote, while her challenger, Winston Tubman, withdrew from the second round alleging that the first was not fair.

Johnson-Sirleaf told UN Radio in an interview last Thursday that Tubman had the right to challenge the elections results, but that she was certain that the results would stand because they met the requirement of the country’s constitution and elections laws.

Pana 17/11/2011