Washington, March 08: US President Barack Obama has commended the Iraqi nation for passing “an important milestone” when millions turned out for national elections despite waves of deadly rocket, mortar, and bomb attacks.
“I have great respect for the millions of Iraqis who refused to be deterred by acts of violence, and who exercised their right to vote,” Obama said in his first reaction to the ballot.
“By any measure, this was an important milestone in Iraqi history,” the US president added. “In a strong turnout, millions of Iraqis exercised their right to vote with enthusiasm and optimism. Today’s voting makes it clear that the future of Iraq belongs to the people of Iraq,” Obama stated.
But he cautioned, “There will be very difficult days ahead in Iraq and there will probably be more violence, but like any sovereign independent nation, Iraq must be free to chart its own course.”
Iraq’s second national election since the 2003 US-led invasion came to a close on Sunday evening.
On Sunday, a string of mortar and rockets attacks targeting polling stations in Baghdad killed at least 38 people and injured over 100 others.
However, despite the violence and threats by militants to derail the parliamentary elections, reports indicate voter turnout was around 55 percent.
———Agencies