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UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council Monday hailed parliamentary elections in Iraq as an "important step" toward strengthening the country's national unity and slammed violent attempts to disrupt the polls.
Members of the 15-member body issued a non-binding statement congratulating the Iraqi people for "demonstrating their continued commitment to a peaceful, inclusive and democratic political process."
Sunday's elections "represent another important step in the political process aimed at strengthening Iraq's national unity, sovereignty and independence," they added.
The council said they looked forward to the certification of the election results by Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission.
Their statement slammed bomb, mortar and rockets attacks which killed 38 people as the polls got underway and reaffirmed that "no terrorist act can reverse a path toward peace, democracy and reconstruction in Iraq."
They condemned "the actions of those who sought to deny the voice of the Iraqi people by attempting to disrupt the elections."
Millions of Iraqis cast their ballots in the second parliamentary election since US-led forces ousted dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.
On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki emerged as the front-runner in the polls, though he could yet face a tough battle to cling to power.
Maliki led polls according to early forecasts, but the official results are not due until the end of March and it is then likely to take months of horsetrading before a new government is formed.
- AFP/sc
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