Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Friday praised his troops in the war-torn Afghanistan for their part in securing the nation's tenuous general elections, reported Xinhua.
"So I'll say to all of our men and women in uniform in Afghanistan: Well done on what you have done in what is a very violent environment, to make it possible for as many people in Afghanistan to get out there and vote as possible," he told reporters after visiting a western Sydney hospital.
He also praised the efforts of other Australians who participated in the independent monitoring of the elections.
Rudd said he understood that of the 70 reported attacks by Taliban and terrorist insurgents, 16 were in the Oruzgan Province, where Australian troops are deployed.
"The outcome of the election is uncertain in terms of who wins. But can I say the fact that we've been able to conduct an election in Afghanistan, in this extraordinarily difficult environment, is a testament to all those involved," Rudd added.
The general elections in Afghanistan ended on Thursday, and Afghan officials were calling it a success even though scattered violence had killed at least 26 people across the country.
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