HEADLINES POLL ARCHIVES FEEDBACK SEARCH REDIFF NEWSLINKS US EDITION NEWS DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ARCHIVES
T V Parasuram in Washington
Describing the first round of polling in Jammu and Kashmir as a 'positive start', the United States has applauded the courage of voters in the face of sporadic violence and threats issued to them by militants.
In its first formal reaction to the polling that took place on Monday, Washington said the feedback it has received from its embassy in New Delhi 'indicates positive start to the process' of election in the state.
State department spokesman Richard Boucher said on Wednesday that in the backdrop of 'sporadic violence and threats that were issued' the US applauded 'the courage of voters to have chosen to participate in the voting'.
He described the poll-related violence as disturbing and said, "But it was relatively at a low level."
"We do welcome the Indian government's commitment to holding an election that is free and fair and perceived as such internationally and within India. We have diplomats and others do as well, up in the area observing the elections," he said.
The statement is being perceived as a strong rebuff to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who, in his speech to the UN General Assembly last week -- much before the first phase of assembly polls in the state began -- had said that the election would be rigged.
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