De Mistura optimistic on Iraq

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Iraq has emerged from six years of conflict as a sovereign country meeting the expectations of the international community, the U.N. envoy to Iraq says.

"We have grounds for optimism," Staffan de Mistura told the U.N. Security Council.

De Mistura hailed the January provincial elections as a sign Iraq has gained confidence in its national institutions, as well as security services.

Iraqi held elections Jan. 31 in 14 of its 18 provinces with national military forces taking the lead in security operations. The elections were conducted with few reports of violence.

The U.S. envoy to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said her country viewed developments in Iraq with great importance, adding those interests were reflected in a shift in the U.S. strategy there.

She called on the international community to join the stabilization effort in Iraq while backing the broader strategy in the Middle East aimed at containing Iran and its nuclear ambitions.

Vitaly Churkin, representing Russia at the United Nations, cautioned, however, that terrorism remained a threat to Iraq's national security and stressed that much of the Iraqi population rejects the presence of foreign troops in their country.

U.S. President Barack Obama announced in Camp Lejeune in North Carolina Friday that U.S. combat operations in Iraq would come to an end on Aug. 31, 2010.