Liberia president's lead narrows in vote count (AP)

MONROVIA, Liberia ? Liberia election officials say the president's narrow lead has decreased as vote counting continues.

Results released late Saturday represent 80 percent of polling stations and decrease Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's lead by less than 1 percent to 44.6 percent. A majority is needed to avoid a runoff after Tuesday's poll.

Earlier Saturday, a group of opposition parties including the second- and third-place contenders said they were pulling out of the process. They threatened to refuse the results over allegations that election officials are skewing the outcome in Sirleaf's favor.

Harvard-educated Sirleaf who was Africa's first democratically elected female president. She is viewed abroad as a reformer and was awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize for her role in stabilizing Liberia after a 14-year civil war.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/africa/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111016/ap_on_re_af/af_liberia_election

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