Liberian President Sirleaf Seeks Second Term

Liberia's President Sirleaf Seeks Second Term in 2011

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa's first democratically elected woman president, has announced she will run for a second term, despite promising during her first campaign to limit herself to one term.

"I now announce to you, and to the thousands of supporters in radio land and abroad, that I will be a candidate," she said during her annual address to Parliament on Monday, which received sharp criticism from opposition parties.

Government spokesperson Cyrus Badio told state radio on Tuesday that Johnson-Sirleaf's decision was due to her successes as president, after her election in 2005 in the wake of a brutal civil war.

"The president has decided to go for a second round because of the numerous successes she has realised over the years in power. She has significantly changed the lives of Liberians," said Badio.

Her candidature comes despite a report by Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission naming her among 50 people who it recommended be banned from holding public office for 30 years for supporting warring factions during the civil war.

The 71-year-old president said she wanted to end the speculation about her intentions in 2011.

Her spokesman Cyrus Badio said she had not realised before the 2005 poll how much work needed to be done in Liberia, which is recovering from years of war.

She become Africa's first elected female head of state.

She won 59% of the vote in a run-off against football star George Weah.

Mr Weah gained most votes in the first round of the poll which followed the end of the war in 2003.

"I know where we are today, I know where we ought to be tomorrow and I know how we will get there," she told a joint assembly of MPs gathered for her annual message.