Liberia's Presidential Run Off on November 8th was declared free and fair and transparent by international observers despite previous claims of fraud in the first round made by one of the parties competing in the presidential race, leading to their call to boycott the polls. UN police and military were on hand to assist in creating a peaceful environment for Liberians to go to the polls on that day. UN personnel were on the ground and in the air. International Observers from the Economic Community of West African States, who are tasked with monitoring the elections, noted that low voter turn out was troubling. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Professor Attahiru Jega, President of ECOWAS 200-member Election Observation Mission to Liberia, and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria: "Low voter turnout characterized early voting even though the crowd gradually improved during the course of the day......Despite these findings, voter turn out remained a concern. While it increased during the course of voting, it seems relatively low compared to the first round." On polling day, the Coordinator of the United Nations in Liberia, Ellen Margrethe Løj visited polling stations in Monrovia and outlying areas. The UN envoy also visited with the UNMIL troops securing the perimeters of the offices of the Congress for Democratic Change, or CDC, where the day before there had been clashes between CDC supporters and Liberian law enforcement personnel. The SRSG met with a few of the supporters who were on the grounds and personally expressed her regret for the loss of life and the injuries that had occurred the day before. She urged all to exercise maximum restraint and not resort to violence. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Ellen Margrethe Løj, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and UN Coordinator in Liberia: "We're all very, very sorry for what happened yesterday. Make sure nothing else happens. Now you have to show a maximum of restraint even if you are sad and angry." In regards to clashes between security forces and the CDC supporters that occurred the day before the polls, Liberia's Inspector General of Police, Marc Amblard said: SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Marc Amblard, Inspector General of Liberia National Police: "There is no doubt that (the) November 7, 2011 incident in front of the CDC Headquarters was unfortunate, as it was necessary to use force to bring the situation under control." The process of sorting and tallying votes cast during the Run Off Election has started throughout the country. International Observers of the run-off election, including those from the Economic Commission of West African States, or ECOWAS, and from the African Union and the Carter Center, have issued statements to the press following the close of the polls on November 8: SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Professor Attahiru Jega, President of ECOWAS 200-member Election Observation Mission to Liberia, and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria: "While awaiting the end of the tallying process, which is being observed by ECOWAS Observers in 19 magisterial offices, the Mission wishes to state that it found no major irregularities in the voting process itself. It considers on the whole, that the elections of November 8, 2011, met the acceptable conditions of being free, fair and transparent." SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Her Excellency Dr. Speciosa Kazibwe, Head of the African Union Commission Election Observer Mission to Liberia, and Former Vice President of the Republic of Uganda: "It is the considered view of the African Union Observer Mission that the run-off presidential election of 8 Nov ember 2011 was conducted in an atmosphere of peace and in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Liberia and in compliance with the African Union Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa."

• published: 14 Nov 2011
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