"The election process succeeded and this is something great regardless of our success or defeat or the success of this alliance or that. The election process succeeded and thank God there was no violence as you hear that elections all over the world are marred by violence or death. But thank God here there were only two or three cases and this is nothing in a country where there is chaos, violence and death," Al-Dulaymi told reporters.
Al-Dulaymi also thanked insurgents who "committed themselves not to attack but to protect voting centers."
Al-Dulaymi also predicted that Shi'ite religious parties would not be able to form a government without including a coalition of Sunni, secular Shi'ite, and Kurdish groups.
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad and top U.S. commander General George Casey released a joint statement congratulating Iraqis on holding a successful election and saying that "the people of Iraq have chosen to become active participants in their country's future."
(AP/Reuters)
Coalition Images Of The Voting
The Multinational Force in Iraq on December 15, 2005, released official images of the voting in the legislative elections. To view a slideshow of their photographs, click on the image.
To see RFE/RL's special webpage about the election, click here.
