The runner-up in Liberia's presidential poll has dropped a threat to boycott next week's run-off election.

Winston Tubman told a news conference late Monday that his CDC party will take part in the run-off now that election commission chairman James Fromayan has resigned.

Mr. Tubman and his party had threatened to boycott the November 8 vote unless Fromayan stepped aside. The party accused the chairman of supporting incumbent President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Mrs. Sirleaf defeated Mr. Tubman in the first round of voting, 44 to 32 percent, short of the majority required for an outright victory.

Meanwhile, VOA's West Africa correspondent Scott Stearns reports that Charles Brumskine, who finished fourth in the first round of voting, has endorsed the incumbent president. Brumskine's Liberty Party won 5.5 percent of the vote.

Mrs. Sirleaf earlier received the endorsement of third-place finisher and former rebel leader Prince Johnson, who won 12 percent of the vote.

Election observers said the first round of voting was generally free and fair.

This is Liberia's second presidential poll since the end of a civil war in 2003. Mrs. Sirleaf won the last election in 2005, defeating George Weah, who is now Mr. Tubman's vice-presidential candidate.