MONROVIA, December 16 (LINA)-The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has consented to send an observer team for this weekend's midterm senatorial elections in Liberia.

A Foreign Ministry dispatch says the disclosure was made by Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, President of the ECOWAS Commission, during discussions held in Abuja, Nigeria between the ECOWAS President and Liberia's Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan.

During the discussions which were held on Monday, December 15, on the margins of the 46th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Minister Ngafuan gave the ECOWAS President an update on the electoral process.

Ngafuan emphasized the lifting of the Supreme Court's injunction on the holding of the elections, which now paves the way for the holding
of the elections on Saturday, December 20..

The dispatching of the ECOWAS election observer team is in response to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's request to Mr. Ouedraogo for the
sub-regional body to send observers for the Liberian senatorial elections, during his recent visit to Liberia.

President Sirleaf's request for ECOWAS to observe the elections is meant to enhance the credibility and transparency of the electoral
process.

The ECOWAS Team is expected to arrive in Liberia during the course of the week in preparation for the elections to be held on Saturday.
LINA