Liberia's previous president was indicted for war crimes and forced into exile. The one before him had his ears chopped off. The one before him was disembowelled.

No matter, George Weah wants the job. The former Chelsea striker and world footballer of the year returned to his war-battered west African country this week to run for the presidency.

Thousands of supporters lined the route from the airport to cheer his motorcade, convinced that the man they call King George could deliver Liberia from tyranny and chaos.

"As you know, my people petitioned me some time ago, so I have come to answer their petition," said Weah, 38, while launching his campaign for next year's presidential election.

Dressed in a suit, he asked people to pray for peace and stability. "During the electoral process, there will be different ideologies and beliefs. But we must embrace each other and be harmonious in unifying Liberia through our love and tolerance."

That was the extent of his manifesto but there was no doubting the seriousness of his attempt at power. He stands a good chance of being elected, according to diplomats in the capital, Monrovia.

After more than a decade of civil war which shattered the economy and left cities in ruins, an interim government, led by Gyude Bryant and aided by 15,000 UN peacekeepers, has disarmed warring factions and presided over a year of relative calm.

The challenge for the next president is to consolidate the peace and forge a failed state of refugees, widows and former child soldiers into a nation.

Weah has little formal schooling, but he has proven versatile on and off the field and has been called African Pride by Nelson Mandela.

Born one of 13 siblings in a small village outside Monrovia, he played with a tin can before he had a ball. His speed, strength and balance vaulted him through local football clubs and to Europe.

He played for Monaco and Paris St Germain before finding greatness with AC Milan, scoring one of the best individual goals of all time and becoming the first player to be nominated European, African and world player of the year in the same season.

By the time he played for Chelsea and Manchester City he was a millionaire and feted at home for captaining and funding the national football team, the Lone Stars.

As an ambassador for UNICEF, he campaigned to demobilise Liberia's boy soldiers, not much taller than their AK-47s. But until now, he has betrayed no political ambition to emulate the likes of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a former professional footballer who became Turkey's prime minister, or Pele, who became Brazil's sports minister.

Founded in the 19th century by freed American slaves, Liberia has not been kind to presidents, nor they to it. Besieged by rebels and indicted by the UN for war crimes, Charles Taylor fled to Nigeria last year. His predecessor, Samuel Doe, was tortured to death. Doe's predecessor, William Tolbert, was bayoneted in his bed.

Those days, it is hoped, are gone. Some 35 candidates have announced they will compete in the UN-backed election scheduled for October.

Weah's supporters have already printed T-shirts with his photograph and the slogan "the people's choice", and signed up members to his party, the Liberian National Congress.

The jubilation at his cavalcade from the airport resembled a victory parade. Women in white ululated, children chanted, others beat drums and prostrated themselves on the ground.

"My president is waiting!" shouted one woman, Louise Sorwon, the AFP news agency reported. "The politicians in this country have failed us, lied to us, killed our brothers and sisters . . . So Weah can deliver the goods."

His wealth was insurance against avarice, said another supporter: "He's rich so he's not going to steal the country's money and he has the country at heart." ...