U.S. Hails Iraqi Vote; Rice Says Tough Days Ahead

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hailed Sunday's landmark elections as "the emergence of an Iraqi voice for freedom" but acknowledged there would be many difficult days ahead.
Although participation estimates varied, Rice, who just took office last week as the top U.S. diplomat, told ABC's "This Week" that Iraqis defied expectations to turn out in large numbers.
Later, Rice told "Fox News Sunday," she had spoken with President Bush who was very pleased by the voting, which will have broad implications for his legacy and his sweeping vision to bring democracy to the Middle East.
Bush "is just so incredibly encouraged by the Iraqi people. ... He just said this is a great day for the Iraqi people," Rice said.
Rice expressed confidence that minority Sunnis, a key to Iraq's future stability, would be included in the post-election political process.
She vowed that America would help Iraqi voters -- who defied threats and deadly attacks to cast ballots -- to "finish the job" of bringing democracy to their country.
"Every indication is that the election is going better than could have been expected ... What we're seeing here is the emergence of an Iraqi voice for freedom," she said in the ABC interview taped on Sunday for broadcast later in the day.
She added: "Of course, there are many, many difficult days ahead. But this has been an extraordinary day so far for the Iraqi people."
Her appearances on U.S. television networks occurred before word came of the crash in Iraq of a British C-130 Hercules transport plane. Britain's Ministry of Defense said there was no word on the cause of the crash or whether there were any casualties.
Rice acknowledged that turnout estimates ranged widely from 50 percent to 72 percent of Iraqi voters.
It would be some time before the exact number is known but "the Iraqi people have clearly turned out ... because they recognize the vote is their opportunity for a different kind of future," she said.