Worldwide reaction to Iraq elections

[meems]

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer yesterday..

and the only negative quote comes from....?????


This is "the first time the Iraqis will determine their destiny."
Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi

"The world is hearing the voice of freedom from the center of the Middle East."
President Bush

"It may have been the force of arms that removed Saddam and created the circumstances in which Iraqis could vote, but it was the force of freedom that was felt throughout Iraq today."
British Prime Minister Tony Blair




"What we are seeing here is the emergence of an Iraqi voice of freedom."
Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice




"They know they're voting for the future of their country. They're voting for the day when they're going to take their destiny in hand."
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan



"The irony is the Arab regimes, who critisize the gaps in the elections and demand they be honest and transparent leading to a full democracy for all Iraqis, are themselves banning such elections for their own people."
Lebanon's Al-Anwar Newspaper political analyst Rafik Khourny

"As you can see, we broke a barrier of fear."
Electoral commision official Mijm Towrish

"Iraqis are walking over body parts of a bomber to vote. Clearly more people are voting in this election than vote in our own elections.
Rep. Christopher Shays, Conn. Rep.

"It is hard to say that something is legitimate when whole portions of the country vote and doesn't vote."
Sen John Kerry, Mass. Dem.

This is a chance for you as Iraqis to assure you and your children's future."
Gov. Hamad Hmoud Shagti of province of Salaheddin




"This is democracy. This is the first day I feel freedom."
Fathiya Mohammed, elderly Iraqi woman.