World leaders say terrorists 'defeated' by Iraqi poll
Online Telegraph
 

George W Bush, the US president, hailed the Iraqi elections a "resounding success" after about 60 per cent of eligible voters braved the suicide bombers to cast their vote.

He said: "In great numbers and under great risk, Iraqis have shown their commitment to democracy

Iyad Allawi called for the country to unite "By participating in free elections, the Iraqi people have firmly rejected the anti-democratic ideology of the terrorists."

Iyad Allawi, Iraq's interim prime minister, urged Iraqis to unite after an election he said had defeated those seeking power through violence.

"Now is the time for all Iraqis to come together. I call upon those who cast their ballot and those who did not to unite," Mr Allawi said in his first televised address since the end of Sunday's election for a 275-seat national assembly.

"The terrorists have been defeated," he added.

Tony Blair said the birth of democracy in Iraq was "a blow right to the heart of the global terrorism that threatens destruction not only in Iraq but in Britain and virtually every major country around the world".

Iran also hailed the elections as a triumph over insurgent attacks.

The Shia Muslim regime, anticipating a Shia victory in Iraq, called for American troops to pull out of its neighbour.

Abdollah Ramazanzadeh, government spokesman, said: "We are happy that the elections, despite the wishes of insurgents, terrorists and some undemocratic countries, have taken place.

"We hope that this election will pave the way for full security and an end tot he occupation of Iraq."

Michel Barnier, the French foreign minister, said the vote was a victory for its people and a first step toward democracy.

"There are many kidnappings, military operations, attacks, so let us be prudent," he added.

"The stages must be reached one by one and this political process getting under way remains fragile."

Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, said Arab countries should "get out of the Middle Ages" and follow the example of Iraq.

"This vote can lead to a positive contagion in all the other Arab countries where there is authoritarianism, where the condition of women is a condition of non-freedom, of non-dignity, where many more steps have to be taken to get out of the Middle Ages, to leave behind forms of government that certainly are not democratic," he said.

Poland, which has 2,400 of its soldiers in Iraq as part of the US-led coalition, said the higher than expected electoral turnout could hasten the withdrawal of its troops.

"These elections show we are dealing with the optimistic scenario. Most important now is how fast the Iraq security forces are equipped and trained so they can take over a bigger security role, and do it faster," the country's defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said.