ELECTION 2007
World lauds 'free and fair' polls
ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT and AFP
The international community welcomed Sunday's general election as ''free and fair'' and looked forward to a smooth formation of the new government. Washington was the first to comment.
US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack congratulated the Thai people on taking a crucial step towards a return to elected government.
''Domestic and international observers were present around the country. We call on all sides to respect the results, and for a fair and transparent process for the adjudication of any disputes or fraud claims,'' said Mr McCormack.
The US looked forward to engaging seriously across a range of issues with an elected Thai government, in keeping with the history of warm friendship and strong alliance, he said.
Portugal, as the rotating president of the European Union, said the poll was an important milestone on the road back to constitutional order in Thailand.
''This election reaffirms the commitment of the people of Thailand to democracy and their determination to decide their own future,'' said the statement issued in Brussels.
The European Union looked forward to strong and fruitful relations with a new, elected government, in the spirit of the long-standing friendship between Thailand and the EU, it said.
Last year the EU, under the Finnish presidency, issued a strong statement following the Sept 19 coup condemning the takeover of power from the democratic government by the military and demanded the coup makers make way for an elected government as soon as possible.
Tokyo welcomed the election as having ''great significance towards the establishment of a democratic government in Thailand''.
''Japan wishes for the smooth launch of a new administration based on the result of the elections,'' said a spokesman of the Japanese foreign ministry.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen praised the election as ''transparent, free and fair'', and said he looked forward to working with the new civilian government.
''We congratulate our friends in conducting transparent, free and fair elections that were accepted by everybody.''
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