NEWSWEEK has done a list of ten outstanding Leaders of the world who have won respect, with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia mentioned.

President Sirleaf, holding the eighth position is described as the "Rebuilder" for the level of transformation and sound leadership she has exhibited since she took power in 2006.

The NEWSWEEK's article indicated that "Running a country can be a thankless job, but these 10 leaders [including President Sirleaf] have managed to win serious respect.

Read the Newsweek's article: When Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected Liberia's president and Africa's only female head of statein 2005, she inherited a country decimated by years of violence. Between 1989 and 2003, two horrific civil wars had killed as many as 250,000 of Liberia's 3 million people, and displaced thousands more; more than 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers were deployed on the ground to maintain a fragile peace.

At the time of her election, Sirleaf who held positions at the World Bank and the U.N. before her political run--told NEWSWEEK, "I'm most concerned with being a mother to Liberia. I want to heal the deep wounds of this nation." Now, five years later, fewer than 8,000 U.N. troops remain in Liberia.

The country has boosted school enrollment by 40 percent, restored power and running water to urban centers, and turned its timber and diamond industries into thrivingand legitimatetrades.

Sirleaf has also slashed Liberia's external debt from $4.9 billion in 2006 to $1.7 billion today. Under her leadership, Liberia is a country rebuilt and reborn.

Following are the ten world leaders including President Sirleaf listed according to position/ranks: The Ambitious Newcomer: David Cameron; The Green Guru: Mohamed Nasheed The Loved-Abroad-Hated-At-Home: Nicolas Sarkozy The Man of the People: Wen Jiabao; The Fiscal Taskmaster: Brian Cowen; The Lion in Winter: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; The CEO-in-Charge: Lee Myung-Bak; The Rebuilder: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; The Reformer: King Abdullah; The Middle Man: Lee Hsien Loong and The Future King Midas: Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj.

NEWSWEEK :Taoiseach Brian Cowen has been listed as one of the top ten leaders in the world by Newsweek magazine.

In its piece 'Go to the top of the class' the magazine says Mr Cowen is 'The Fiscal Taskmaster'.

It says that despite Ireland's 'once roaring economy' being 'staggered by the banking crisis'; unemployment at 13%; rising emigration; and the money markets ranking the Irish economy 'not far behind Greece on the list of Europe's big-time losers', Mr Cowen and 'his able finance minister Brian Lenihan are prescribing harsh medicine'.

The article, by reporter Christopher Dickey, says that the Government has 'pushed through austerity packages drastic enough to win the admiration of the international community, raised taxes, and slashed some public salaries by more than 10%.'

However, according to the report 'the Irish aren't showing much gratitude' as Mr. Cowen's popularity rating has 'plunged to a mere 18%'.

Despite this, the report says, 'there's some hope that his (Mr. Cowen) government's unpopular measures will be rewarded in the long run' as surveys suggest that Irish consumer confidence is on the rise again, and 'the economy notched up modest growth in the first quarter of 2010'.

Other world leaders included on the top ten list are the UK's David Cameron, France's Nicolas Sarkozy, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and Liberia's Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.