Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Monrovia (Fides Service) - “An example of maturity and responsibility which astonished the world and demonstrated that there is always hope for a better future”. This was the comment from a missionary in Monrovia, capital of Liberia, after presidential and legislative elections on Tuesday October 11 (see Fides 11 October 2005). “The people waited patiently for hours to vote calmly and with good behaviour aware the elections were important step towards a better future” the sources said.
“Now we are waiting for the results expected not before 25 and 26 October because the arrival of ballots to the main electoral office in Monrovia will be delayed by bad roads. This is the only difficulty in the whole election. There has been no violence of any kind” the missionary reported.
“So far only results with regard to Monrovia have been given and these would point to a possible re-vote for two main candidates. None of the candidates for President would appear to have obtained the necessary absolute majority”. An estimated 80% of Liberia’s 1.350 million eligible voters went to the polls.
The Catholic Bishops had encouraged people to choose candidates according to honesty and transparency and to accept the results of the election.
International observers present to monitor the election said the vote was fair and peaceful and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan sent his “warmest congratulations” to the Liberian people for their exemplary behaviour. "The United Nations will continue to work with the people of Liberia to consolidate peace and to promote democratic development, good governance and a state of law”, the spokesman of Mr Annan said. A UN mission in Liberia of 17,692 members including 14,692 troops provided besides security also technical and logistic support for the vote. The presidential and parliamentary elections, foreseen by the peace agreement signed in August 2003, closed a sad page of Liberia’s history marked by 14 years of civil war which took 250,000 lives and left thousands of displaced persons. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 13/11/2005 righe 34 parole 411)
