The United States on Thursday welcomed the preliminary results of Iraqi provincial elections, noting both relatively high voter turnout and low levels of violence, and said the polls showed progress in Iraqi democracy. “This is a milestone in terms of Iraq's democratic development,” State Department acting spokesman Robert Wood said. “The fact that … you had Iraqis going to the polls, very little violence that took place … around the election time, … it's great for the Iraqi people.” Noting voter turnout of about 50 percent, Wood said of democracy in Iraq, “this is what so many have died for, so many have wanted. It's a very good thing.” The spokesman stressed that the final results were not due until February 23 but said, “the Iraqi people have a lot to celebrate, and they deserve all the credit.” Preliminary election results on Thursday showed a decisive victory for the nationalist, non-sectarian agenda of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki over the Shiite religious parties that previously dominated Iraq politics.
