Liberia’s Electoral Stand-off.
Neither President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf nor her presidential challenger Winston Tubman are adding to their personal luster following the Liberian elections. Johnson-Sirleaf is defending the Liberia National Police shutdown of three opposition media entities (a radio station and two television networks) that reported on the riot in which three people died the day before the elections. In an address to the nation, President Johnson-Sirleaf said the police moved to “prevent incitement.” But, the Press Union of Liberia does not accept that justification and has urged her administration to stop intimidation of the media.