Sirleaf wins, promises reconciliation

Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has pledged reconciliation after a highly divisive run-off in which she was the only candidate.

With 86 per cent of the votes counted, Sirleaf is on 91 per cent after her rival, Winston Tubman, boycotted the election.

He alleged that the poll - seen as a test for Liberia's fragile democracy - was rigged in favour of Sirleaf.

But foreign observers condemned his decision to boycott the election, saying it was well-organised.

Turnout was 37.4 per cent - about half the number who turned out for the election's first round last month.

Sirleaf confident

Sirleaf won the most votes in that round, but failed to gain an outright majority, forcing a run-off.

With such a low turnout and no majority in parliament, her task promises to be all the more difficult, says the BBC's Thomas Fessy in the capital, Monrovia.

Sirleaf said she would reach out to all presidential candidates to work within an inclusive government.

"What I will offer them is not yet known," she told reporters.

"I am confident we will be able to reconcile the people."

But Tubman said he would not participate in her administration, BBC correspondent says.

The election commission said Tubman, whose name remained on ballot papers, got 9 per cent of the vote.

The run-up to Tuesday's voting was marred by violence in which two people were killed when security forces opened fire. Sirleaf has promised an investigation. International observers said the election process was credible and transparent.

—BBC