Moussa on the Iraqi elections

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa hoped Sunday's elections would help launch an effective development and reconstruction process and restore the country's leading regional and international role.

In press statements from Houston, US, which he is currently visiting, Moussa said such efforts would make it possible for the foreign troops to withdraw from the war-hit Arab state.

He added that he was in favor of a political process involving all Iraqi ethnic groups.

"It is of equal importance for Iraqis to close ranks during the transitional period toward a stable and unified state," Moussa said.

He commended the Iraqi people for being alert and standing up to conspiracies to divide their country and ignite sectarian sedition.

Meantime, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said "I wish to pay tribute to the courage of the Iraqi people, and to congratulate the Independent Election Commission of Iraq, as well as the thousands of Iraqi election workers and monitors, on having organized and carried out elections so effectively in such a limited timeframe and such daunting circumstances."

He added "The success of the election augurs well for the transition process. The next phase will be one in which the Transitional National Assembly drafts a permanent constitution for Iraq, which is expected to be put to a referendum in October 2005. It is important to ensure that all individuals, groups and parties who, for whatever reason, were unable or unwilling to take part in the election are now brought into the constitution-making process."

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