Liberia's 'Iron Lady' visiting UK

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was elected as president last November

The new president of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, is visiting the UK as Africa's first elected female leader.

Her election win over ex-footballer George Weah in November was intended to mark the end of 14 years of civil war in the west African state.

The president is expected to encourage UK firms to invest in Liberia, which has external debts totalling £2bn.

Known fondly as the "Iron Lady", she will meet the Queen and International Development Secretary Hilary Benn.

During her three-day visit, the new president will also meet the Leader of the Lords, Baroness Amos, and minister for Africa Lord Triesman.

Liberian Information Minister Johnny McClain told the BBC Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf would ask the UK to use its influence at the United Nations to end the sanctions imposed on Liberia during the rule of her predecessor, Charles Taylor, who is now facing war crimes charges.

Imprisonment and exile

Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf was imprisoned in the 1980s for criticising the military regime of Samuel Doe and has twice gone into exile to escape her legal problems with the governments of the day.

The new president has promised to use her strong economic background to restore financial stability to Liberia.

She is a Harvard-trained economist and former employee of Citibank and the World Bank.

The UK has previously committed £9m towards humanitarian efforts in Liberia.

This included support for a UN-led programme to reintegrate 40,000 combatants involved in the long-running civil war, which was ended by a peace agreement in August 2003.

This commitment is in addition to other financial contributions, including £7.6m to support humanitarian agencies.