Reactions Around the Reactions Around the WorldWorld

To the Election of To the Election of

Our 44Our 44thth President President

AfghanistanAfghanistan

Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, congratulated Obama on his US congratulated Obama on his US election victory, saying it took the election victory, saying it took the world into a "new era".world into a "new era".

IraqIraq Hoshyar Zebari, the Iraqi foreign minister, said Hoshyar Zebari, the Iraqi foreign minister, said

Washington would not adopt a "quick disengagement" Washington would not adopt a "quick disengagement" policy with Baghdad under the presidency of Barack policy with Baghdad under the presidency of Barack Obama as a "great deal is at stake here".Speaking to Al Obama as a "great deal is at stake here".Speaking to Al Jazeera, Zebari said: "I think it [Obama's election] was a Jazeera, Zebari said: "I think it [Obama's election] was a major, major change ... although as far is Iraq is major, major change ... although as far is Iraq is concerned I don't believe there will be any changes concerned I don't believe there will be any changes overnight. And there won't be any immediate overnight. And there won't be any immediate disengagement because a great deal is at stake for disengagement because a great deal is at stake for everybody."I don't think there is much difference everybody."I don't think there is much difference between the Iraqi government position and President-between the Iraqi government position and President-elect Obama's. He is contemplating withdrawing US elect Obama's. He is contemplating withdrawing US forces within 16 months. We may have some difficulties forces within 16 months. We may have some difficulties with that time-line, but we also, in the status of forces with that time-line, but we also, in the status of forces agreement, set the date of 2011 as the date for the agreement, set the date of 2011 as the date for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. So really the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. So really the differences are not very wide."differences are not very wide."

PakistanPakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani, Pakistan's prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, Pakistan's prime minister,

congratulated Obama on his victory, saying he congratulated Obama on his victory, saying he hoped the Democrat would promote "peace and hoped the Democrat would promote "peace and stability" in the region around Afghanistan.stability" in the region around Afghanistan."I hope that under your dynamic leadership, [the] "I hope that under your dynamic leadership, [the] United States will continue to be a source of United States will continue to be a source of global peace and new ideas for humanity," he global peace and new ideas for humanity," he said in a statement, directed at Obama.said in a statement, directed at Obama."I look forward to more opportunities to discuss "I look forward to more opportunities to discuss ways to further strengthen Pakistan-US relations ways to further strengthen Pakistan-US relations and to promote peace and stability in our region and to promote peace and stability in our region and beyond."and beyond."Obama has riled Islamabad in the past, pledging Obama has riled Islamabad in the past, pledging that the US under his leadership would "take out" that the US under his leadership would "take out" al-Qaeda and Taliban bases in Pakistan.al-Qaeda and Taliban bases in Pakistan.

Palestinian TerritoriesPalestinian Territories Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, congratulated Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, congratulated

Obama and urged him to speed up efforts to reach an Israeli-Obama and urged him to speed up efforts to reach an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. ”President Abbas congratulates Palestinian peace agreement. ”President Abbas congratulates US president-elect Barack Obama in his name and in the US president-elect Barack Obama in his name and in the name of the Palestinian people and hopes he will speed up name of the Palestinian people and hopes he will speed up efforts to achieve peace, particularly since a resolution of the efforts to achieve peace, particularly since a resolution of the Palestinian problem and the Israeli-Arab conflict is key to Palestinian problem and the Israeli-Arab conflict is key to world peace," Nabil Abu Rudeina, Abbas's spokesman, said. world peace," Nabil Abu Rudeina, Abbas's spokesman, said. “President Abbas hopes the new administration will continue “President Abbas hopes the new administration will continue to make the peace efforts one of its top priorities.“ to make the peace efforts one of its top priorities.“ Meanwhile, Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, urged Obama Meanwhile, Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, urged Obama to learn from the "mistakes" of previous US administrations in to learn from the "mistakes" of previous US administrations in dealing with the Muslim and Arab worlds. "He must learn from dealing with the Muslim and Arab worlds. "He must learn from the mistakes of the previous administrations, including that of the mistakes of the previous administrations, including that of Bush which has destroyed Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Bush which has destroyed Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine," said Fawzi Barhum, a Hamas spokesman. "He Palestine," said Fawzi Barhum, a Hamas spokesman. "He must improve US ties with the rest of the world rather than must improve US ties with the rest of the world rather than wave the big American stick. "We want him to support the wave the big American stick. "We want him to support the Palestinian cause or at least not to be biased towards the Palestinian cause or at least not to be biased towards the Israeli occupation. We have no problem establishing normal Israeli occupation. We have no problem establishing normal relations with the United States to explain our just cause."relations with the United States to explain our just cause."

IsraelIsrael Israeli-US relations face "a bright future", Ygal Palmor, Israeli-US relations face "a bright future", Ygal Palmor,

a spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry, said in a spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry, said in reaction to Obama's election to the White House.reaction to Obama's election to the White House."Israelis congratulate the two great friends of Israel, "Israelis congratulate the two great friends of Israel, John McCain for his great campaign, Barack Obama John McCain for his great campaign, Barack Obama for his historic victory. "We are certain that Israeli-for his historic victory. "We are certain that Israeli-American friendship faces a bright future.“ Tzipi Livni, American friendship faces a bright future.“ Tzipi Livni, leader of the ruling Kadima party, recalled Obama's leader of the ruling Kadima party, recalled Obama's visit to Israel in July and said that "the people of Israel visit to Israel in July and said that "the people of Israel felt he [Obama] is a man who is deeply committed to felt he [Obama] is a man who is deeply committed to Israel's security and peace". "Israel hopes to pursue Israel's security and peace". "Israel hopes to pursue close strategic cooperation with the new close strategic cooperation with the new administration and the new US president, and hopes administration and the new US president, and hopes to further tighten the unshakeable ties between our to further tighten the unshakeable ties between our two countries," she said.two countries," she said.

ChinaChina Hu Jintao, China's president, congratulated Hu Jintao, China's president, congratulated

Obama on his victory in the US presidential poll, Obama on his victory in the US presidential poll, saying a closer relationship b tween the two saying a closer relationship b tween the two nations would be "for the benefit of Chinese and nations would be "for the benefit of Chinese and American people, and people around the world". American people, and people around the world". "In a new historical era, I look forward to ... taking "In a new historical era, I look forward to ... taking our bilateral relationship of constructive co-our bilateral relationship of constructive co-operation to a new level," Hu said in a written operation to a new level," Hu said in a written message, according to a statement on message, according to a statement on the Chinese foreign ministry's website. Wen the Chinese foreign ministry's website. Wen Jiabao, China's prime minister, also congratulated Jiabao, China's prime minister, also congratulated Obama, while Xi Jinping, the vice-president, sent Obama, while Xi Jinping, the vice-president, sent a message of congratulations to Joe Biden, a message of congratulations to Joe Biden, Obama's running mate and America's next vice-Obama's running mate and America's next vice-president.president.

BritainBritain Gordon Brown, the UK's prime minister, Gordon Brown, the UK's prime minister,

congratulated Obama, hailing his "energising congratulated Obama, hailing his "energising politics ... his progressive values and his vision for politics ... his progressive values and his vision for the future". "I would like to offer my sincere the future". "I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Barack Obama on winning the congratulations to Barack Obama on winning the presidency of the United States," he said in a presidency of the United States," he said in a statement. "The relationship between the United statement. "The relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is vital to our States and the United Kingdom is vital to our prosperity and security ... Barack Obama ran an prosperity and security ... Barack Obama ran an inspirational campaign, energizing politics with inspirational campaign, energizing politics with his progressive values and his vision for the his progressive values and his vision for the future."future."

IndiaIndia

India's ruling Congress party hailed India's ruling Congress party hailed Obama's victory, saying his "youthful Obama's victory, saying his "youthful energy" was in tune with the energy energy" was in tune with the energy of emerging India. "Obama of emerging India. "Obama represents youthful energy, represents youthful energy, exuberant dynamism and a forward-exuberant dynamism and a forward-looking progressive mindset which is looking progressive mindset which is also the spirit animating India," also the spirit animating India," Abhishek Manu Singhvi, spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi, spokesman for India's Congress party, said.for India's Congress party, said.

FranceFrance Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, congratulated Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, congratulated

Obama on a "brilliant victory". "I give you my Obama on a "brilliant victory". "I give you my warmest congratulations and, through me, those of warmest congratulations and, through me, those of all French people," Sarkozy told the Democratic all French people," Sarkozy told the Democratic candidate in a letter made public by the French candidate in a letter made public by the French presidency. "Your brilliant victory rewards a tireless presidency. "Your brilliant victory rewards a tireless commitment to serve the American people. It also commitment to serve the American people. It also crowns an exceptional campaign whose inspiration crowns an exceptional campaign whose inspiration and exaltation have proved to the entire world the and exaltation have proved to the entire world the vitality of American democracy. By choosing you, the vitality of American democracy. By choosing you, the American people have chosen change, openness and American people have chosen change, openness and optimism," he wrote.optimism," he wrote."At a time when all of us must face huge challenges "At a time when all of us must face huge challenges together, your election raises great hope in France, together, your election raises great hope in France, in Europe and elsewhere in the world."in Europe and elsewhere in the world."