WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Sunday welcomed the results of Iraq's landmark elections, congratulating voters and candidates but stressing that the results have yet to be certified.
"Two weeks ago, more than eight million Iraqis defied terrorists and went to the polls," Bush said in a statement
"The world saw long lines of Iraqi men and women voting in a free and fair election for the first time in their lives. The United States and our Coalition partners can all take pride in our role in making that great day possible," he said.
"Today, the provisional results of the election have been announced," the president added. "We still await their review and certification."
"I congratulate the Iraqi people for defying terrorist threats and setting their country on the path of democracy and freedom," Bush said. "And I congratulate every candidate who stood for election and those who will take office once the results are certified."
Iraq's Shiite majority won nearly half of the vote in the January 30 national assembly election, followed by the Kurdish alliance which captured one-quarter of the ballots. Minority Sunnis managed only a distant third with 13.8 percent.
02/13/2005 21:35 GMT - AFP