RAMALLAH, West Bank, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Former U.S. President and chief international observer Jimmy Carter described the Palestinian presidential poll as free and honest.
Speaking Monday after a visit with President-elect Mahmoud Abbas, Carter told journalists in Ramallah: "I came to congratulate Abu Mazen (Abbas) on his victory in free and honest elections."
Carter said he believes the results of the poll opened the way for the resumption of the stalled peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
"The whole world is excited by the results of the elections which create the possibility of reactivating the peace process and achieving justice for the Palestinian people so that they can live in peace with Israel as neighbors and friends," Carter said.
"I am praying for that and I believe these elections are an important step towards achieving that objective," he added.
In a related development, Abbas received a congratulatory phone call Monday from Israeli Labor Party leader Shimon Peres.
Abbas, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, won nearly 63 percent of the vote, becoming the second president of the Palestinian Authority after the late Yasser Arafat.
