In a joint statement, US Ambassador Christopher Hill and General Ray Odierno, USF-I Commander, lauded active participation of Iraqis in the parliamentary elections, reported U.S. Embassy Press Office on March 7, 2010.
The joint statement reads: “We congratulate the Iraqi people on their historic parliamentary election today as their country continues its democratic progress. Iraqis turned out in large numbers to vote, showing their determination not to let terrorists derail their desire to participate in choosing their leaders.   We applaud IHEC’s organization of this important milestone, and commend UNAMI for the assistance it provided.  We also commend the outstanding performance of the Iraqi Security forces to protect the Iraqi people in this historic endeavor.  We will continue to provide all necessary support as Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission pursues its important work. “