美国白宫发言人麦克莱伦20日在新闻发布会上说，布什总统当天分别与伊拉克总统塔拉巴尼和总理贾法里通了电话，对伊拉克成功举行大选表示祝贺。

    麦克莱伦说，布什在电话中对伊拉克民众和各政治派别都能踊跃参加投票予以赞扬，并重申美国将继续对伊拉克重建、打击萨达姆政权残余势力及恐怖分子提供支持。

    麦克莱伦还说，塔拉巴尼和贾法里在电话中都对美国向伊拉克提供的帮助表示感谢。

    伊拉克15日举行了议会选举，有1000多万选民参加了投票。由于伊拉克政府和驻伊美军采取了严密的安全措施，整个选举过程基本顺利。

    US President George W. Bush congratulated President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari of Iraq on Tuesday on their country's elections, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

    Bush praised "the courage and determination of the Iraqi people that demonstrated through the large turnout last week for the election," and "the broad participation by all communities in Iraq," McClellan said.

    Bush also "reiterated America's commitment to help the Iraqi people build a lasting democracy and defeat the terrorists and Saddam loyalists. Both leaders thanked the president for our strong support," said the spokesman.

    Iraq held its first four-year term parliament on Dec. 15 after former president Saddam Hussein was toppled in the US-led invasion in March 2003.