In pictures: Liberia, one year on

After a long civil war, Liberia celebrates a year since a newly elected president took charge. Photographer Paolo Pellegrin took these pictures whilst in Liberia with Medecins du Monde.

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf became Africa's first elected female head of state and began the task of rebuilding her country in January 2006. She faced a Herculean task.

Monrovia's Hotel Ducor was once a five star establishment, but today it houses 2,500 displaced people. Most Liberians have come home from abroad, but many are homeless.

The new Liberian police force is composed of former fighters from the civil war and is being trained by the some members of the large United Nations force in the country.

In some areas such as Red Light Junction, which is the capital's poorest district, there are many problems, with prostitution and drug abuse rife.

Ex-fighters who belonged to different rebel factions during the civil war, today battle it out on the football field. Jobs remain scarce, with unemployment estimated at 85%.

The central prison in Monrovia reopened at the end of the civil war, justice is still slow and most of the inmates are awaiting sentence.

Unmil (United Nations Mission In Liberia) has 14,000 foreign troops who have stayed on after the polls to maintain the peace, which for many remains a great comfort.

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