Weah returns to Liberia

Former Fifa World Player of the Year George Weah returned to Liberia on Wednesday to launch a presidential bid in his war-scarred homeland.

Thousands lined the route of his motorcade from the airport, cheering and beating drums - welcoming him as much as a hoped-for national saviour as an African football great.

"My president is waiting!" shouted one woman, in what looked like a victory parade on the main street of the battered capital.

"The politicians in this country have failed us, lied to us, killed our brothers and sisters; our youths are suffering; they have no food to eat, no work to do; so Weah can deliver the goods," she added.

I ask Liberians to pray so that God will bring peace, and stability and bring about unification to ourselves George Weah

Honoured as Fifa best player of the year in 1995, Weah became a UNICEF goodwill ambassador two years later.

He has worked with the United Nations agency to help fight the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa through education and to promote vocational training initiatives to rehabilitate child soldiers from African countries, specifically Liberia.

Weah left Monrovia at 20 to pursue a professional football career. But he has not stayed away, and his efforts prompted former South African president Nelson Mandela to call him the "African Pride."

"I ask Liberians to pray so that God will bring peace, and stability and bring about unification to ourselves," Weah, dressed in a dark suit, said after attending a brief church service immediately upon his arrival.

Addressing his supporters later, he accepted their petition asking him to run for the presidency.

Besides his anti-war efforts and trying to help child soldiers, Weah has served as the Liberia national coach, star player and sponsor, providing charter flights for the team's matches, and player payments.

Elections are set for 2005, with a post-war government led by a popular businessman, Gyude Bryant, governing until then.