Polls Open in Liberia's Second Post-War Election

Liberians began voting Tuesday in the second election since the end of a 14-year civil war, which is being closely watched as a litmus test of the West African nation's fragile democracy.

"All the voting places have been opened at eight o'clock, there are no reports of delays yet and no reports of incidents but the day is still long so we are waiting to hear from our stations in other parts of the country," National Elections Commission spokesman Bobby Livingstone said.

Long queues were seen at polling stations in the capital as voters waited from early morning in the rain to cast their ballots.

At the GW Gilbson Highschool in Monrovia where about 800 people lined up, John Plato, 60, was one of the first to vote after waiting for four hours.

"I feel very happy having cast my ballot, these elections are crucial in the eyes of Liberians and the international community and so it was important for me to vote to be part of the history-making process of the country."

The elections are the first since President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf made history when she became Africa's first female president in 2005 elections, shortly after the country emerged from a long and savage war which left some 250,000 dead.

The 2011 joint Nobel Peace Prize winner is facing a stiff challenge from main opposition candidate Winston Tubman, 70, who has crowd-pleasing football star George Weah as his running mate.

Some 1.8 million people have registered to vote in presidential, legislative and senatorial elections which will be a sign to the international community and much-needed investors that the country has been able to cement its peace.