US, UN Praise Bravery of Afghans on Election Day
By VOA News
20 August 2009
The White House is praising Afghans for turning out to vote in Thursday's presidential elections despite the Taliban threats of violence.
Spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters "lots of people" defied the possibility of attacks to express their will for the next government in Afghanistan.
Thursday's vote was a test for U.S. President Barack Obama's revamped war strategy in Afghanistan designed to defeat a bloody Taliban insurgency and stabilize the country. Mr. Obama has deployed thousands of additional U.S. troops, and deaths have recently increased as soldiers conduct military operations in traditional Taliban strongholds in the south.
In New York, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated the Afghan people for showing their desire for stability and development. He also praised Afghanistan's electoral commission and other institutions for organizing the vote in what he called "an extremely challenging environment."
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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