UN Security Council welcomes first round of Liberia's presidential

The UN Security Council on Wednesday hailed the "peaceful and orderly" completion of the first round of presidential and legislative elections in Liberia which took place on Oct. 11. "The members of the Security Council commend the people of Liberia on the completion of the first round of the presidential and legislative elections on Oct. 11, which was peaceful and orderly," said a Security Council press statement, which was read by Joy Ogwu, Nigeria's UN ambassador who holds this month's rotating Security Council presidency. In the press statement, the Security Council said they looked forward to "the peaceful conduct of the second round of elections from the Oct. 25 announcement of results through the vote itself, scheduled for Nov. 8." "The members of the Security Council support the joint efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and in particular the special representative of the secretary-general in promoting dialogue in Liberia and encourage all Liberian stakeholders to remain committed to the legitimate political process, exercise maximum restraint and work together to build confidence in the electoral system," said the statement. In the press statement, the Security Council underscored the " importance of peaceful, credible and transparent elections." "They reiterate their support for the UN Mission in Liberia ( UNMIL) and its assistance, in accordance with its mandate, to the Liberian electoral process," said the press statement. The Security Council encouraged international and national stakeholders, including civil society, to deploy as many electoral observers as possible, as invited by the government of Liberia, to monitor the second round of the presidential election. On Tuesday, Liberia's National Elections Commission (NEC) released final results of the Oct. 11, 2011 legislative and presidential elections, saying that none of the 16 presidential candidates obtained an absolute majority to be declared winner. The election law of Liberia provides that a presidential candidate must obtain 50 percent plus one vote of valid ballots counted as prescribed in article 83 b of the 1986 Liberian constitution. A run-off will be held on Nov. 8, 2011.