MONROVIA (Reuters) – Clashes and sporadic gunfire rocked part of Monrovia on the eve of a presidential election, killing at least one person after riot police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of supporters of challenger Winston Tubman.

Members of Tubman’s CDC party said at least three other people were killed by security forces on Monday, though this could not be confirmed. United Nations helicopters hovered as police and Tubman’s rock-throwing supporters clashed in sidestreets.

MONROVIA (Reuters) – Clashes and sporadic gunfire rocked part of Monrovia Monday, killing at least one person after Liberian riot police fired tear gas to disperse several hundred supporters of presidential challenger Winston Tubman.

Members of Tubman’s CDC party said at least three other people were killed, though this could not be confirmed. Two United Nations helicopters flew overhead as police and Tubman’s rock-throwing supporters clashed in side streets.

MONROVIA (Reuters) – Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is poised to win reelection in a run-off on Tuesday, though her rival has vowed to reject the results after pulling out of the race over allegations of fraud.

The vote was meant to gauge the West African state’s progress since a devastating civil war ended in 2003 and pave the way for new investment, but fears are rising it could instead open the door to open-ended political turmoil.

MONROVIA (Reuters) – Liberia could tip into chaos not seen since its civil war if a presidential run-off election set for Tuesday is not delayed and reorganized, presidential hopeful Winston Tubman said Sunday.

Tubman, a former United Nations diplomat, was meant to stand against incumbent Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in the November 8 run-off but last week withdrew his participation in the process and called for a boycott, citing electoral fraud during the first round of voting last month.

MONROVIA (Reuters) – Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf urged voters Saturday to ignore a poll boycott called for by her rival, saying the move was illegal and intended to intimidate Liberians.

Her calls were echoed by both the United States and West African regional body ECOWAS who criticised the move and indicated that they would recognise the vote anyway.

MONROVIA (Reuters) – Prince Johnson revelled in sweet revenge after capturing Liberian President Samuel Doe in 1990, celebrating with cans of Budweiser as his fighters mutilated the toppled leader before executing him.

More than 20 years on, Johnson has a new chance to shape his civil war-scarred West African country — not as a fighter, but as a politician whose strong support could give him the unlikely power to pick the next president.

MONROVIA, Oct 15 (Reuters) – Nine Liberian opposition
parties, including President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s two main
challengers, have rejected results announced so far for this
week’s presidential election, alleging massive fraud.

The move is the first sign of trouble in the West African
state’s presidential election, the second post-war ballot which
is a key test of progress towards stability and its readiness
for investment in untapped mining, agricultural and oil
resources.

MONROVIA, Oct 14 (Reuters) – President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
has extended her lead in Liberia’s election but remains short of
the outright majority required for a first-round win, according
to the latest batch of results announced by the election
commission on Friday.

The newly named Nobel peace laureate now leads with 45.4
percent of the votes in the West African state’s second
presidential vote since its civil war, up from 44.5 percent in
results on Thursday and ahead of closest rival Winston Tubman,
now on 29.5 percent, according to the results.

MONROVIA (Reuters) – Former rebel leader Prince Johnson, who was filmed watching his fighters torture former President Samuel Doe during Liberia’s civil war, is on course to become a kingmaker in its election and says he plans to cash in on that role.

The prospect of a former fighter deciding the outcome of the election could prove unpalatable for international partners, who are eager to see Liberia close the book on a 14-year conflict that killed nearly 250,000 people and ruined its infrastructure.

MONROVIA, Oct 14 (Reuters) – In the heart of Monrovia’s
worst slum, Gabriel Mobo sits on a wooden bench surrounded by
playing grandchildren and surveys his neighbourhood – a crush of
tin and brick hovels surrounded by trash and putrid water.

At 55, he has lived a life of desperate poverty and survived
Liberia’s 14 bloody years of conflict — a small miracle, but he
wants more.