United States President George Bush telephoned South African President Thabo Mbeki on Monday to congratulate him on the peaceful outcome and high voter turnout of parliamentary elections.
Bush told Mbeki that South Africa offers a model to countries moving toward democracy, the White House said.
More than 70% of the 20,6-million registered voters cast ballots last Wednesday.
Presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo confirmed the call on Monday evening.
”They spoke at 1.30pm SA time on the telephone. Bush congratulated the president on the successful outcome of the elections.”
Khumalo said Mbeki visited Bush in Texas shortly before he was elected American president.
”The call on Monday indicated the extent of the relationship between the two presidents and also between the people of the two countries.”
Both presidents committed themselves to working together to meet the challenges facing the world, at bilateral as well as multilateral level, Khumalo said. – Sapa