Arab leaders congratulates Talbani on election as president of Iraq

Arab leaders sent congratulations to Jalal Talabani who was elected as a new interim president of Iraq.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad sent on Thursday a cable of congratulations to Jalal al-Talabani on his election as president of the Iraqi republic.

"We send the most sincere congratulations and best wishes of good health, happiness and success in your responsibilities," the al-Assad's cable said. He wished the "sisterly" Iraqi people to "cement unity ranks and achieve security and stability as well progress and prosperity."

King Mohammed VI of Morocco sent a congratulations to Talabani whose election, he said, reflects the democratic orientation of the Arab country.

Wishing the new Iraqi leader "success" in his mission, the monarch said Talabani's election illustrates "the democratic orientation and the commitment to national unity and territory of brotherly Iraq." King Mohammed VI also voiced willingness to consolidate "fraternity ties" between the two states' peoples.

The Kurdish leader was sworn in as Iraq's new interim president on Thursday, and Shiite leader Ibrahim Jaafari was named as the country's prime minister. The appointment of Talabani, 71, makes him the first non-Arab president of a majority Arab country. "I swear by God the great that I will work with devotion to preserve the independence and sovereignty of Iraq and to preserve its democratic and federal system," Talabani said as he was sworn in. Talabani then appointed Shiites leader Ibrahim Jaafari, 58, as prime minister of the country's new interim government whose main task will be drafting the country's permanent constitution and setting the ground for elections in December.