Post by Salem6 on Nov 5, 2008 10:45:03 GMT
Leaders across the Middle East have congratulated Barack Obama and given him a cautious welcome on his election as the next US president.
Israel said he was committed to its security, while the Palestinians urged him to work for a peace deal.
Iraq's foreign minister said he did not expect a quick US troop disengagement.
And a senior Iranian leader and the Palestinian militant group Hamas both spoke of failings and "mistakes" of outgoing President George W Bush.
The newly-elected Democratic senator faces a raft of issues across the region:
the status of the US troop presence in Iraq
concerns about a potentially nuclear-armed Iran
the fall-out from a recent US raid on Syria
a push by the incumbent administration to negotiate a deal between Israel and the Palestinians
In Iraq, a senior political adviser to the Iraqi prime minister, described Mr Obama's rise to become the first African-American US president as "an unprecedented example of democracy".
Mr Obama was opposed to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and has advocated a swift withdrawal of US troops.
The American people have to change their policies in order to get rid of the quagmire made by President Bush for them
Iranian official Gholamali Haddad Adel
But Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said he did not expect a policy change "overnight".
The BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says there is concern Mr Obama will pull out American troops before Iraqi forces are fully ready to deal with the country's still very deep security problems.
In Iran, a senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Illinois senator's win was a sign of the failure of his predecessor:
"The American people have to change their policies in order to get rid of the quagmire made by President Bush for them," said Gholamali Haddad Adel.
Mr Obama has said he supports unconditional negotiations with Iran, a long-time US foe.
Another aide to Ayatollah Khamenei said there was "capacity for the improvement" of US-Iranian ties, "if Obama pursues his campaign promises, including not confronting other countries as Bush did in Iraq and Afghanistan", according to comments reported by Reuters news agency.
'A great leader'
The victory was also welcomed in Israel, although Mr Obama's openness to talks with Iran and generally less hawkish stance have caused concern among some.
Palestinians are hoping for tangible steps in US-sponsored talks
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Israelis had been impressed by Mr Obama's "commitment to the peace and security of Israel" and that the country hoped to "continue to strengthen the lasting special relationship between our two countries".
She also praised Mr Obama's Republican rival John McCain, for his "long-standing friendship".
Israeli President Shimon Peres described Mr Obama as "young, fresh, promising, representing a change and introducing change".
"Nobody should look at whose side the President is on - he just has to be on the side of peace," he said.
He also sent Mr Obama a letter which reads: "Dear Mr President, The world needs a great leader. It is in your making. It is in our prayers. God bless you."
Saeb Erekat, aide to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinians hoped Mr Obama would "stay the course" on the current US engagement in peace talks, Reuters reported.
"We hope the two-state vision would be transferred from a vision to a realistic track immediately," he said.
A spokesman for Hamas, the Palestinian militant group which seized control of Gaza last year and which is considered a terrorist organisation by the US, told AFP news agency that Mr Obama "must learn from the mistakes of the previous administrations, including that of Bush which has destroyed Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine."
"He must improve US ties with the rest of the world rather than wave the big American stick," said spokesman Fawzi Barhum.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7710271.stm