2 killed in Liberia's pre-election clash

At least 2 people have been killed in Liberia as police clashed with opposition supporters one day before a presidential election.

Africa's first democratically elected female president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a joint winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, failed to secure a majority in the first round on October 11th.

The president will face former justice minister, Winston Tubman, in a run-off on Tuesday.

The Tubman camp has refused to take part in the run-off, citing alleged irregularities in the first round. His supporters gathered in the capital Monrovia on Monday to call for a boycott of the vote.

The rallies turned violent as armed police officers tried to break up the protests.

The local Red Cross told NHK by phone that at least 2 people were killed.

Johnson-Sirleaf is urging the public to vote, but Liberians, who endured a 14-year civil war, are fearful that the current tension may trigger more violent conflict.

Tuesday, November 08, 2011 07:22 +0900 (JST)