3/14/2010 UN envoy lauds Iraq polls as "very fair"
BAGHDAD, March 14 (KUNA) -- United Nations Secretary General's Special Representative for Iraq Ad Melkert said Sunday the recent legislative elections in Iraq have been held in "very fair and democratic atmospheres." "The electoral process proceeded in sound and transparent atmospheres," Melkert said during his meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maleki.
Several parties pushed for successful polls in Iraq particularly in this crucial stage of Iraq's transition, a statement issued here by Al-Maliki's office quoted Melkert as saying.
Al-Maliki said in earlier statements that regardless of the winners or losers, what mattered most was the fairness of the polls.
Al-Maliki, whose list - the State of Law Coalition - held a wide lead according to the early results, said: "We attribute special importance to the statements of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) about the elections." The Iraqi premier highly appreciated the efforts made by the UNANI and Melkert in monitoring the March 7 elections.
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