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Monrovia — Liberia’s National Election Commission says former international soccer star George Weah is still leading the presidential election with nearly three-quarters of the ballots counted.

The commission on Saturday said Weah, candidate for the Congress for Democratic Change party, had just over 39% of the vote and Vice President Joseph Boakai had just under 30%. Charles Brumskine remains in third with almost 10% of the votes.

Liberians voted on Tuesday at more than 5 300 polling stations to pick a successor to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first democratically elected woman president.

The race had 20 candidates in all, and observers expect a runoff election will be required. A candidate needs just over 50% to avoid a runoff.

The election’s final results must be announced by October 25. — AFP