A statement released by the three parties said the poll, which saw former international footballer George Weah take the most votes, was "characterised by massive systematic irregularities and fraud".

With tallies in from 95.6 percent of polling stations, Weah took 39.0 percent of the votes and Boakai 29.1 percent, both well short of the 50 percent barrier required to win outright from the first round of voting held on Tuesday.

Every candidate has asserted they have the magic formula to turn around Liberia's stuttering economy, which remains stubbornly reliant on foreign assistance despite significant endowments of iron ore, rubber and palm oil.