Liberia Ruling May Affect Polls Date, Official Says

Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:33 AM GMT

MONROVIA (Reuters) - A ruling by Liberia's Supreme Court on Tuesday has raised doubts about whether presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for October 11 can be held on that date, the country's top electoral official said.

The Supreme Court upheld an appeal by three candidates who had been barred from standing in the polls by the country's National Elections Commission which had said there were problems with their registration.

The court decision meant the candidates' names would now have to be included in official ballot papers which have already been printed for the October 11 polls. Twenty-two candidates, including a millionaire soccer star and a World Bank-trained economist, have been registered to run for the presidency.

"The implication of the (Supreme Court) decision is obviously that we are not sure if we can implement the decision and still keep the election date of October 11," National Elections Commission chief Frances Johnson-Morris said.