Polls open in Liberia presidential, legislative elections

Polling stations opened in Liberia on Tuesday. Liberians begin voting to select a new president or give incumbent candidate George Weah a second mandate. Weah is the favourite against 19 rivals for the presidency but could face a second-round runoff in early November unless a candidate secures an unlikely absolute majority in the first round.

In the capital Monrovi, hundreds are already gathering to cast their ballots. More than 2.4 million people in the West African country, still scarred by back-to-back civil wars, will also elect lawmakers. Voting booths, opened at 08:00 GMT will close at 18:00 GMT, with the final results expected within 15 days.