Calm before Liberia post-war poll

Campaigning has been remarkably peaceful

No party colours, T-shirts or party emblems are allowed in public as campaigning closed in Liberia ahead Tuesday's landmark post-war elections.

The BBC's Mark Doyle in Liberia says there is likely to be a healthy turnout due to the UN's presence.

Campaigning by 22 presidential hopefuls has been vigorous but peaceful.

George Weah, the former footballer, is expected to face a tough challenge from a former finance minister and ex-World Bank employee, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

I want a vocational school... we need teachers to train the youths to do a useful job Momo Freeman Sinje village chief Put your questions to Liberian villagers

More than 700 candidates are also chasing 94 seats in the Senate and House of Representatives in the first election since the former Liberian leader, Charles Taylor, was forced to step down two years ago as part of a peace deal, ending the 14-year civil war.

The poll being held under United Nations tutelage is designed to turn a page on Liberia's bloody history and usher in democracy and peace.

Expectation

Liberia's election commission says the day before polling should be used as a day of reflection.

[Young people] are afraid they won't get another chance YMCA's Peter Kamei Main poll contenders Q&A: Liberia polls

On the streets of the capital, Monrovia, there is an air of expectation and the impression that everyone is involved in the election, our correspondent says.

Most cars and buses are plastered with posters of presidential candidates.

Campaigning has been remarkably peaceful - people wearing opposing party T-shirts have been seen chatting and debating on street corners.

Churches in Liberia read a special election bulletin from the commission to their congregations on Sunday about the mechanics of voting and advising people to take water when they vote, and a light snack - plus an umbrella in case of rain.

Illiteracy

Next to women, young people - many of whom are former fighters - represent the largest constituency of voters.

Guide to Liberia and its recent turbulent history At-a-glance

With an illiteracy rate of 80%, jobs and education are some of the main issues concerning them.

"They know very well that this election is a critical one - it will determine their future, " Peter Kamei of Liberia's YMCA told the BBC's Network Africa programme.

"After almost 20 years of hostilities, they're afraid they won't get another chance," he said.

A military coup in 1980 kicked off two decades of tribal and political faction-fighting in Liberia.

Given this history, our correspondent says, it's not surprising that the peace deal and the arrival of 15,000 UN troops has brought Liberians hope.

But the same history has made people fearful and wary and there's no guarantee that when the UN's expensive operation eventually comes to an end, war won't start again, he says.

With 22 presidential candidates, it is unlikely that one candidate will win the 51% needed to avoid a second round of voting.