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MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) - A former soccer star whose rise from a Monrovia slum has captivated Liberia's youth had a firm lead in early returns in the country's presidential race, an electoral official said Saturday.
George Weah led a field of 22 candidates with 32 percent of votes tallied so far, followed by Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a former finance minister with a degree from Harvard University, with 18 percent, National Elections Commission chairman Frances Johnson-Morris told reporters.
A candidate must win 51 percent of the Oct. 11 poll to avert a run-off, and electoral officials say a second round vote is likely in early November.
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