Elections-Nigeria - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday praised the Liberian people for the 'calm and peaceful manner'in which they conducted themselves during their presidential and parliamentary elections. Ban in a message issued at the UN headquarters New York, commended the people of Liberia for exercising their right to vote in a calm and peaceful manner.

He noted that the elections were an important milestone in the efforts to consolidate peace and democracy in the country.

The secretary-general also praised Liberians for their ability to demonstrate political maturity in their second post-civil war vote.

About 8,000 UN peacekeepers were deployed across Liberia to secure the peace.

Nearly 150,000 people died and another 850,000 fled to neighbouring countries during the decade-long civil war in Liberia.

Partial results indicate that Liberian President and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has 44.5 per cent of the votes while her closest rival, Winston Tubman has 26.5%.

Former warlord Prince Johnson has 13.5 per cent.

The figures mean the vote is heading for a run-off as no candiate would have more than 50 per cent to be the outright winner in the first round. 

Pana 14/10/2011