Black Habits - Liberian confirmed as first female president in Africa

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has been confirmed as Africa's first elected female president.

Officials in Liberia on Wednesday declared her the winner of a runoff election. The inauguration is set for January.

She claimed victory on Nov. 10 but had to await approval from the National Elections Commission. Johnson-Sirleaf received 60 per cent of the votes to beat soccer star George Weah.

The commission is investigating complaints of electoral fraud initiated by Weah supporters.

But international observers said the vote was largely clean, identifying just a few minor infractions.

UN forces in the country are keeping the peace during the first elections since a 14-year civil war ended in 2003.

Johnson-Sirleaf, educated at Harvard, has been Liberia's finance minister and had been in top international banking and UN jobs.

Note: 23 Nov 2005 12:41:59 EST CBC News