Weah takes early lead

MONROVIA -- Results from Liberia's elections were trickling in on Wednesday, with partial, unofficial tallies giving football icon George Weah a huge lead over 21 rivals to claim the presidency of the war-torn West African state.

A first official release of results, however, representing about 1 percent of the 3 070 polling stations nationwide, gave the edge to Weah's presumed top rival, former World Bank economist Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

National Electoral Commission chairwoman Frances Johnson Morris said that of 12 835 votes officially registered, Sirleaf had gained 24 percent and Weah 21 percent .