The White House on Sunday congratulated the winners of Iraq's election, and all candidates and voters for their courage in braving insurgent threats to cast ballots in the first poll since U.S.-led forces overthrew Saddam Hussein's government in 2003. "The election was a positive and significant accomplishment. We congratulate those candidates who will be members of the transitional national assembly once the results are certified," Taylor Gross, a White House spokesman, said. "And we also congratulate the Iraqi people for their courage and vision in ensuring the success of these elections. We commend all of the candidates who put their names forward for their courage and unselfish service to Iraq," Gross said. In results announced earlier on Sunday in Baghdad, an Islamist bloc won the election with more than 47 percent of the vote, and a Kurdish alliance was second with 25 percent. The Jan. 30 election was held amid concerns that voters might shy away from the polls out of fear of attacks by insurgents, but when the day arrived many Iraqis participated in the first multi-party election in a half century. Iraq's electoral commission said 8.55 million Iraqis, or 58 percent of registered voters, cast ballots in the election for the 275-member National Assembly, which must agree on a president and two-vice presidents. Those officials will agree on a prime minister and cabinet, with the approval of the assembly.
