Gates: US happy with Iraq vote turnout, security

Iraqi voter turnout was as "high if not higher" than expected, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday, as he praised Iraqi security forces for appearing to have prevented al-Qaeda from staging more deadly election-related attacks.

"The Iraq security forces have performed superbly. And the turnout is as high if not higher than earlier expectations. So all in all, a good day for the Iraqis and for all of us," Gates told reporters, citing information he had received from the top US commander in Iraq, General Ray Odierno. (Reuters)