Liberians hail victory of ex-football star Weah in landmark vote

MONROVIA: Liberians revelled Friday in former football star George Weah's presidential victory, in the country's first democratic transfer of power in seven decades scarred by civil wars, political assassinations and an Ebola crisis.

Weah, idolised in Liberia as "Mister George", is set to replace Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who took over in 2006 at the helm of the west African state founded by freed US slaves.

The 51-year-old starred at top-flight European clubs Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan in the 1990s, before briefly playing for Chelsea and Manchester City toward the end of his career.

Weah, who entered politics after retiring from football in 2002, easily beat his rival Vice President Joseph Boakai in Thursday's run-off vote.