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 MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) - A former finance minister and Harvard graduate claimed victory Thursday in Liberia's presidential election as a large early lead showed her poised to become the first elected female leader ever in Africa. But her rival, former international soccer star George Weah, refused to concede defeat and maintained his allegations of fraud.
With just over 91 percent of the ballots counted, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf had 59 percent of the vote and Weah had nearly 41 percent, the National Elections Commission said.
"It's clear that the Liberian people have expressed confidence in me," Johnson-Sirleaf told The Associated Press. "They have elected me to lead the team that will bring reform to the country and that will deliver development."
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