LIBERIA: Voters thirsty for news as counting begins after landmark polls

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

MONROVIA, 12 Oct 2005 (IRIN) - Liberians with a radio were in demand on Wednesday as a nation hungered for any scrap of news about who might be their next president, but elections officials warned voters were in for a long wait.

Officials said results were in from only one percent of the electorate, a day after thousands of people braved huge lines to cast their ballot for a leader they hope will lead them away from their war-torn past and out of abject poverty.

These partial results, compiled from 39 polling stations, put presidential favourites Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and George Weah neck and neck.

The National Elections Commission said Sirleaf, a Harvard-educated economist who would be Africa's first elected female leader if she won, had 24.6 percent of the votes so far, with millionaire soccer star Weah just behind on 21.2 percent.

Lawyer Charles Brumskine -- who led the Senate under former president Charles Taylor before falling out with him -- and Winston Tubman – the nephew of the country's longest serving president -- were in joint third, with 10.2 percent.

However, Liberia's electoral chief, Frances Johnson-Morris, stressed that this was an incomplete snapshot.

"Remember... there are 3,070 polling places that need to be compiled, counted and tallied," she told a packed press conference on Wednesday. "The entire process is expected to take three to seven days."

On the streets of the capital, Monrovia, where only two years ago residents hardly dared venture out for fear of random mortars and stray bullets, people stood on street corners with radios glued to their ears.

Those without a radio in this impoverished nation, packed into mechanics' garages, tailors workshops and grocery stores, straining to hear broadcasts detailing results from individual polling stations.

Sylvester Yangbae, who earns a living typing documents on a street corner for the illiterate masses, said he had brought his wireless to work so as not to miss anything and was compiling his own tally sheet.

Waiting doesn't dampen enthusiasm

"I'm feeling great because we went through a lot of suffering during the past years. So to be able to elect our president freely and fairly, it's incredible and I want every scrap of information," he told IRIN, noting down another result.

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