Mixed reaction appears in Mideast to Obama´s win in U.S. presidential election

Source: Xinhua | 11-06-2008 11:31

CAIRO, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Middle East, a strategic stronghold of global geopolitics for the United States, has responded with a mixed mood of expectation, wait-and-see approach to U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's Mideast policy, following his victory in Tuesday's election.

Various countries and bodies of the region hailed the election of Obama, expecting a new U.S. administration will bring about a fresh drive to help settle the decade-long conflicts in the region.

Egypt, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, voiced its expectation that Obama would help the restive region reach peace and stability.

On Wednesday, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak sent a greeting cable to Barack, congratulating him for his victory in the U.S. presidential election.

Mubarak voiced his hope in the message that Obama would help parties concerned in the Middle East to reach a just and comprehensive settlement and bring about peace and stability in the region, the official MENA news agency reported.

Regarding the Palestinian issue, Mubarak said "We are looking forward to your constructive contribution to resolve the Palestinian problem."

U.S. Democratic candidate Barack Obama won a landslide victory in the presidential election Tuesday, which will make him the 44thpresident of the United States and the first African-American in U.S. history to sit in the Oval Office.

Abdel-Raouf el-Reidi, head of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs (ECFA), said the Middle East is expecting Obama to adopt a "just and enlightened" policy in dealing with the regional issues.

Describing Obama's victory in the election as a historic change for the United States and the world, el-Reidi said he is looking forward to changes in the U.S. Mideast policy.