Liberia Ruling Party Expels Outgoing President Sirleaf, AP Says

(Bloomberg) -- Liberia’s ruling party expelled outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, saying she violated the party’s rules by not supporting her vice president in last month’s election, Associated Press reported, citing a party official.

The Unity Party accuses Johnson Sirleaf of sending people to campaign against the party, Mohammed Ali, assistant secretary-general for press and public affairs, is quoted as saying by AP. Johnson Sirleaf was also seen campaigning with George Weah, who won the election in a landslide, Ali said.

Retired soccer star Weah defeated Vice President Joseph Boakai in an election runoff, winning 61.5 percent of the votes. He’ll succeed Harvard-educated former banker Johnson Sirleaf, who has ruled the West African nation for 12 years. Weah will be sworn in this month.

To contact the reporter on this story: Olivier Monnier in Abidjan at omonnier@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Steve Geimann at sgeimann@bloomberg.net, Ville Heiskanen, Andrew Blackman

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