MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) – Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf claimed victory yesterday in Liberia’s post-civil war presidential poll, a win that would make her Africa’s first-ever elected female leader if it is officially certified.

With 90.8 per cent of votes counted, 59.1 of Tuesday’s vote was held by 67-year-old Johnson-Sirleaf versus 40.9 per cent won by her opponent, international soccer star George Weah, the electoral commission said.

“It’s clear that the Liberian people have expressed confidence in me. They have elected me to lead the team that will bring this reform to the country and that will deliver development,” she told The Associated Press.

There was no immediate word from Weah’s camp on whether he was conceding the vote – Liberia’s first since the end of a 1989-2003 civil war and subsequent transitional government of national unity that arranged the elections.

Weah has alleged fraud in Tuesday’s voting, which international observers say was not marked by any widespread irregularities.

National Elections Commission Chairwoman Frances Johnson-Morris told reporters the commission had received a formal fraud complaint from Weah’s campaign, but she gave no details. “We’ll do everything to expedite the investigation into this complaint,” she said.

On Wednesday, Weah accused poll workers of having plans to stuff ballot boxes in Johnson-Sirleaf’s favour – charges that Johnson-Sirleaf denied.

Weah has accused the National Elections Commission of bias and called on Johnson-Morris to step down.

On Thursday, Weah held talks with Alan Doss, who heads the 15,000-strong peacekeeping mission that has been deployed in Liberia since civil war ended in 2003.

Weah said his campaign was pressing its complaints. “We are seeking the advice of the international community and all the people that are involved to see if everybody can arrest this situation,” Weah said. “While we are preparing ourselves for the legal side, we are also asking our people to be very calm.”