ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Sunday he saw surprisingly little violence associated with the Iraq elections and that security improvements have forced al Qaeda-linked militants to change tactics.
Mr. Gates told reporters Sunday that he has been briefed on the voting by the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno. Mr. Gates said turnout is as high or higher than expectations.
He said, “All in all, a good day for the Iraqis and for all of us.”
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Mr. Gates said he was told about “a handful” of militant attacks that caused injuries. But Gates said there’s been no confirmed mortar or indirect fire attacks on Baghdad. He said that in the South, in eight of nine provinces there were no security incidents at all during the voting.
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