Liberia votes to choose Ellen Johnson Sirleaf successor

Liberians are voting today to choose a successor to Africa's first elected female president and Nobel Peace laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. 
 
Former football star George Weah and Vice-President Joseph Boakai are the main contenders in the race to succeed her.  

Liberia, founded by freed US slaves in the 19th Century, has not had a smooth transfer of power in 73 years.
  
Madam  Sirleaf urged people to vote peacefully in a nation still recovering from a 14-year civil war. 

Meanwhile the Co-chair of Liberia's Electoral Commission Sarah Jegede Toe has been speaking on preparations for the election.

20 presidential candidates are running to succeed Madam Sirleaf. 

They include Alex Cummings, a former Coca-Cola executive, and MacDella Cooper, a former model and girlfriend of Mr Weah.  

Madam Sirleaf aged 78 is stepping down at the end of her two terms.

SOURCE: BBC
---DECRYPTED---