Liberians endured a steady rain Tuesday to vote in the country’s second national elections since the end of a 14-year civil war. Election observers told VOA that most polling stations opened on time and that voting was proceeding smoothly despite the weather. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is facing a tough fight for a second term, […]
Liberians Vote in Second Post-War Election
Liberians Vote in Second Post-War Election
Liberians lined up in the rain to vote Tuesday in national elections, marking the second time Liberians have voted since the end of a 14-year civil war. Many voters arrived at polling stations overnight so they could be among the first to cast ballots in the closely-fought presidential poll. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is facing […]
Liberians Vote in Second Post-War Election
Voters in Liberia are going to the polls Tuesday for the second time since the end of their 14-year civil war. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is facing a tough fight for a second term, just days after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. The Liberian leader is running against more than a dozen opponents, and her […]
Liberians Prepare to Vote in Second Post-War Elections
Liberians are preparing to head to the polls for just the second time since the end of their 14-year civil war. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is seeking a second term in Tuesday’s vote, just days after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Despite the prestigious international honor, Mrs. Sirleaf is facing a tough fight for re-election. […]
Liberia’s President Sirleaf Facing Stiff Oppostion in Re-election Bid
Just days after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is facing a strong challenge in an election Tuesday that is focusing on opposition charges that she has failed to repair the ravages of war to the West African nation after six years in power. The award has highlighted Ms. Sirleaf’s standing […]
Gbowee Harnessed Power of Women to Help End War
Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee says she is “overwhelmed” and “re-energized” by the news Friday that she has jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize. The 39-year-old former social worker has been honored for bringing together thousands of women to help end a bloody, 13-year war in Liberia that killed 250,000 people. Gbowee founded Women of […]
Leymah Gbowee Harnessed Power of Women to Help End War
Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee, joint winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, harnessed the power and bravery of women to help end a bloody war. The 39-year-old Gbowee, a social worker by training, helped unite Christian and Muslim women against warlords in her country, a campaign believed to have helped end 13 years of conflict. […]
Liberia’s ‘Iron Lady’ Snares Peace Prize, Sparks Controversy
The choice of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as one of three Nobel Peace Prize winners this year is already sparking controversy. Mrs. Sirleaf tells VOA she is humbled by the award and called it an achievement for the Liberian people. But skeptics are questioning whether the Norwegian-based Nobel Committee is interfering with Liberia’s domestic […]
New Zealand Scrambles to Prevent Oil Spill
New Zealand officials say the country is facing an environmental disaster, as a stranded container ship threatens to break up and leak hundreds of tons of heavy fuel. Officials say none of the 25 crew members on board were injured when the Liberian-flagged ship hit a reef off the coast of Tauranga on New Zealand’s […]
Container Ship Stuck On New Zealand’s Reef
A container ship is stranded on a reef off the port of Tauranga on New Zealand’s North Island. Officials say none of the 25 crew members on board were injured when the Liberian-flagged ship ran aground Wednesday. The 47,000-ton vessel is listing and has a few holes in the hull, but appears to be stable […]