{UAH} Liberia's Boakai courts smaller parties as run-off looms

Liberia's Boakai courts smaller parties as run-off looms

ACopyright: EPA

Joseph Boakai urged fellow opposition candidates to join the "rescue team for a resounding victory"Image caption: Joseph Boakai urged fellow opposition candidates to join the "rescue team for a resounding victory"

Liberia's main opposition presidential candidate Joseph Boakai is rallying the support of other smaller parties ahead of a likely run-off against incumbent George Weah.

Provisional results from 99.9% of the country's 5,890 polling stations show that none of the two leading candidates has garnered more than 50% of the votes to be declared the winner.

Mr Weah currently has 43.8% of the vote with Mr Boakai on 43.5%, following elections on 10 October, provisional results show.

The National Elections Commission is yet to declare a runoff.

In a press conference on Thursday, Mr Boakai urged fellow opposition candidates to join the "rescue team for a resounding victory".

"We are reaching out to our brothers and sisters in the opposition and Liberians in general to join us in this noble mission of making our country breathe freely again," he added.

None of the 18 other candidates received more than 3% of the vote.

A run-off is expected to be held on 7 November after the announcement of official results.

Mr Boakai, who served as vice-president in the government of then-President Ellen Johnson, waged his campaign under the slogan "Rescue".

Mr Weah says his government made huge strides in its first term, including introducing free tuition for university students.