Weah cautioned over poll dispute

MONROVIA – A top international peace negotiator for Liberia on Wednesday urged soccer millionaire George Weah to accept the outcome of an inquiry into his claims that a rigged run-off election robbed him of the presidency.

Electoral authorities have started probing a fraud complaint by the former AC Milan striker about the Nov. 8 poll, which official voting returns show he lost by a wide margin to former Finance Minister Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.But Weah’s legal team turned up at the first day of hearings at the National Elections Commission (NEC) without any evidence or witnesses to support their claims that ballot papers were doctored and ballot boxes stuffed.They said they thought they only needed to produce affidavits.”As a lawyer, it is so elementary one does not have to tell you to come with your witnesses,” said Joseph Blidi, the NEC’s presiding officer, as the hearing was suspended until Friday.Weah’s mostly young supporters have staged several protests in the run-down capital of Monrovia.Some have turned violent and the government has banned further street demonstrations.”One party is aggrieved and is seeking redress.I hope he will accept whatever result is obtained from the outcome of the investigation and he has agreed to that,” said former Nigerian military ruler Abdulsalami Abubakar, who has supervised Liberia’s peace process after its civil war.”I believe that (the candidates’ camps) must give peace a chance.I am appealing to all of them to ensure that nothing is done to frustrate the peace we have achieved so far,” he said.With all of the votes counted, Johnson-Sirleaf – who would become the first woman to be elected president of an African country if her victory is confirmed – came out with 59,4 per cent, compared to Weah’s 40,6 per cent, the elections commission says.But the results are preliminary and the commission will not give a final verdict on a winner, required by Nov.23 under the law, until it has finished investigating Weah’s complaint.International observers and African leaders have praised the Nov.8 run-off as generally free and fair.- Nampa-Reuters8 poll, which official voting returns show he lost by a wide margin to former Finance Minister Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.But Weah’s legal team turned up at the first day of hearings at the National Elections Commission (NEC) without any evidence or witnesses to support their claims that ballot papers were doctored and ballot boxes stuffed.They said they thought they only needed to produce affidavits.”As a lawyer, it is so elementary one does not have to tell you to come with your witnesses,” said Joseph Blidi, the NEC’s presiding officer, as the hearing was suspended until Friday.Weah’s mostly young supporters have staged several protests in the run-down capital of Monrovia.Some have turned violent and the government has banned further street demonstrations.”One party is aggrieved and is seeking redress.I hope he will accept whatever result is obtained from the outcome of the investigation and he has agreed to that,” said former Nigerian military ruler Abdulsalami Abubakar, who has supervised Liberia’s peace process after its civil war.”I believe that (the candidates’ camps) must give peace a chance.I am appealing to all of them to ensure that nothing is done to frustrate the peace we have achieved so far,” he said.With all of the votes counted, Johnson-Sirleaf – who would become the first woman to be elected president of an African country if her victory is confirmed – came out with 59,4 per cent, compared to Weah’s 40,6 per cent, the elections commission says.But the results are preliminary and the commission will not give a final verdict on a winner, required by Nov.23 under the law, until it has finished investigating Weah’s complaint.International observers and African leaders have praised the Nov.8 run-off as generally free and fair.- Nampa-Reuters