In First for Africa, Woman Wins Election as President of Liberia

[struggle4progress]

By LYDIA POLGREEN
Published: November 12, 2005

DAKAR, Senegal, Nov. 11 - Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a Harvard-educated economist and former World Bank official who waged a fierce presidential campaign against the soccer star George Weah, emerged victorious on Friday in her quest to lead war-torn Liberia and become the first woman elected head of state in modern African history.

"Everything is on our side," said Morris Dukuly, a spokesman for Ms. Johnson-Sirleaf. "The voters have chosen a new and brighter future."

With 97 percent of the runoff vote counted on Friday, Ms. Johnson- Sirleaf achieved an insurmountable lead with 59 percent, compared with Mr. Weah's 41 percent, in a nation where women make up more than half the electorate. <snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/12/international/africa/12liberia.html

[Aimah]

1. Another country to do it before us. n/t

[CottonBear]

4. India, Pakistan, Great Britain and Israel have all had women leaders.

Why are we so behind the curve?

[Kipling]

7. Don't really think that's neccasarily a good thing.

Britain's Thatcher was both extremely unpleasant, and Pakistan's Bhutto was incompetant, corrupt and a religious extremist. Better to have a liberal man than a conservative woman any day.

[rwheeler31]

2. Wow

nt

[readmylips]

3. Germany elects first woman Chancellor (same as president)...

US leader of nothing.

[kitkatrose]

5. This is wonderful.

This makes how many other countries with female heads of state before us?

[MichiganVote]

6. Backwards America, women locked out of positions of power in gov't