File photo shows Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf shows an identification plate of her nation during the 10th World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial conference in Nairobi, Kenya, on Dec. 16, 2015. The ministerial conference formally approved Liberia's membership after eight years of negotiations. (Xinhua/Pan Siwei)

MONROVIA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Liberia's polling stations opened early Tuesday for the second round of voting for citizens to choose between the candidates of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and the governing Unity Party's candidate.

The much-anticipated second round of voting is a contest between CDC candidate George Weah and Liberian vice president Joseph Boakai. The winner will replace Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first female president, who is stepping down after two terms in office.

No candidate was able to secure the 50 percent plus one valid votes cast required by law to be elected president in the first round on Oct. 10.

Liberian police on Monday said security had been beefed up throughout the country ahead of the presidential run-off, allaying fears of possible violence.