UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday
congratulated Iraq for holding provincial elections that were transparent,
credible and free of violence, dpa reported.
The elections on Saturday "strengthened Iraq's democracy and further the
cause of national reconciliation," Ban said in a statement.
"The secretary general lauds the efforts of the Independent High Electoral
Commission (IHEC) for organizing these elections as planned, and commends the
professionalism and commitment of the staff involved at each step of the
process," the statement said. The commission was assisted by the UN
mission in Iraq.
The elections were monitored by more than 500,000 national observers and
political parties' agents. International monitors were also on hand to lend
credence to the process, the statement said.