May 12 Photo Brief: Pakistan’s general elections, astronauts in space, Rock ‘n’ Roll Weekender in England
Pakistanis turn out to vote in general elections, astronauts makes repairs in space, Rock ‘n’ Roll Weekender in England and more in today’s daily brief.
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- Supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister and head of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), Nawaz Sharif, celebrate with fireworks the victory of their party a day after landmark general elections, in Lahore, on May 12, 2013. U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed the “historic, peaceful and transparent transfer of civilian power”, saying Washington was ready to work “as equal partners” with the new government. (Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images)
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- This May 11, 2013 NASA handout image captured by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield on board the International Space Station (ISS) shows astronauts Tom Marshburn and Chris Cassidy during a spacewalk to make repairs. NASA HO via AFP/Getty Images)
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- An attendee chalks his cue at the 50th Hemsby Rock ‘n’ Roll Weekender on May 12, 2013 in Hemsby, England. Fans of Rock and Roll, Rockabilly, Rockin’ Blues and Americana gather at Seacroft Holiday Camp in Hemsby to dress up in period clothing and re-live the 1940’s and 50’s. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
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- Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson (C) lifts the English Premier League trophy at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, northern England May 12, 2013. Ferguson’s last home match in charge of Manchester United ended in a low-key 2-1 Premier League win over Swansea City as the Old Trafford crowd gave their long-serving manager a warm and emotional send-off on Sunday. (Phil Noble/Reuters)
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- Relatives of Ahmet Uyan, 45, and Ahmet Ceyhan, 23, who were killed in yesterday’s car bombings mourn in the town of Reyhanli of Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border May 12, 2013. Turkey said on Sunday it believed fighters loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were behind twin car bombings that killed 46 people in a Turkish border town. (Umit Bektas/Reuters)
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- A member of the youth wing of India’s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shouts slogans as policemen try to detain him during a protest outside the residence of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi May 12, 2013. Hundreds of BJP members on Sunday demanded Singh’s resignation for the so-called Coalgate mining rights scandal, who was coal minister when some of the blocks were awarded. (Adnan Abidi/Reuters)
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- Indian Hindu devotees walk with trident rods piercing their cheeks while taking part in a procession held to honour the Hindu goddess Maha Mariamman in Amritsar on May 12, 2013. Devotees believe that the goddess protects whoever worships her. It is said she brings good health and prosperity to all her devotees. (Nanu Narinder/AFP/Getty Images)
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- An Indian Muslim devotee, who is on a pilgrimage to the shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti for Urs, performs a stunt during a procession at Ajmer in the desert Indian state of Rajasthan May 11, 2013. Urs is an annual festival which is held for over six days at Ajmer, commemorating the death anniversary of Sufi saint Chishti. (Stringer/Reuters)
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- People line up to collect water at Yazarthingyan lake in Dala township, near Yangon May 12, 2013. Dala township is located near the sea and the only source of freshwater is from the inland lakes which have all dried up, with the exception of Yazarthingyan lake. According to the local authorities, the lake is only opened to locals once every three days, with over 1,000 people lining up to collect water when the authorities opened the lake from 4 pm to 5 pm. (Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters)
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- A U.S. Navy River Command Boat cruises off the coast of Bahrain’s Salman port, near the capital Manama, on May 12, 2013, one day before the start of the biggest exercise of mine countermeasure maneuvers in the Arabian Gulf. The U.S. Navy along with other 40 nations are conducting the games. (Marwan Naamani/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Athletes compete in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the IAAF Diamond League in the Qatari capital Doha on May 10, 2013. (Karim Jaafar/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Serena Williams of the U.S. serves the ball to Maria Sharapova of Russia during their women’s singles final match at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid May 12, 2013. (Susana Vera/Reuters)
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- Participants wearing red dresses pose for a group photo during the Red Dress Run charity event on Mother’s Day in Beijing, May 12, 2013. (Jason Lee/Reuters)
Obama hails Pakistan for elections, pledges equal partnership
Jeff Mason | Reuters
2:41 p.m. EDT, May 12, 2013
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama congratulated Pakistan on Sunday for the successful completion of its parliamentary elections and said the United States would work with the country’s new government as an equal partner.
“The United States stands with all Pakistanis in welcoming this historic peaceful and transparent transfer of civilian power, which is a significant milestone in Pakistan’s democratic progress,” Obama said in a statement released by the White House.
“By conducting competitive campaigns, freely exercising your democratic rights, and persevering despite intimidation by violent extremists, you have affirmed a commitment to democratic rule that will be critical to achieving peace and prosperity for all Pakistanis for years to come,” he said.
Pakistan’s Nawaz Sharif made a triumphant comeback in the country’s election and looks set to form a stable government capable of implementing reforms needed to rescue the fragile economy.
The polls were seen as a democratic landmark, marking the first time one elected government was to replace another in a country vulnerable to military takeovers.
Washington is eager to maintain a stable partnership with Pakistan, particularly as it continues counterterrorism operations on the Afghan border, but the relationship has been complicated by U.S. drone strikes blamed for killing civilians.
Obama did not note Sharif by name in his statement.
Sharif, a former prime minister, is almost certain to take the post for a third time.
“My administration looks forward to continuing our cooperation with the Pakistani government that emerges from this election as equal partners in supporting a more stable, secure, and prosperous future for the people of Pakistan,” Obama said.
Secretary of State John Kerry, who recently hosted talks between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan’s army chief meant to reduce tensions between the two neighbors, also called Pakistan’s elections historic.
“The Pakistani people stood up resiliently to threats by violent extremists,” Kerry said. “We’ll be working with the new government to advance shared interests including a peaceful, more prosperous and stable future for Pakistan and the region.”
(Editing by Sandra Maler)
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