The presidential and legislative elections in war-torn Liberia are expected to be held on October 11 this year, the chief mediator in the west African country's peace process has said.

According to Nigeria's daily Vanguard on Monday, former Nigerian military leader Abdulsalami Abubakar disclosed this on Sunday after he and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Executive Secretary Mohammed Ibn Chambas conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the situation in Liberia.

Abubakar said that the election timetable meant Liberia has begun a critical countdown to return to democratic government in January next year.

"We are currently in the last lap of the mediatory role we are playing in the country as we are now approaching the elections," the chief mediator said.

Abubakar said he was hopeful and satisfied with the progress so far made but pointed out that critical problems of funding remain as donors who pledged funds are still holding back.

Meanwhile, reacting to a question on the credibility of candidates, he expressed the optimism that "parties will sort themselves out and present credible candidates at the appropriate time."

Liberia was founded in 1847 by freed African American slaves. Its 14-year-long civil war, which claimed at least 200,000 lives, ended in August 2003 when former president Charles Taylor stepped down and was replaced by a power-sharing government.

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2005)