President Barack Obama called Iraq’s election an “important milestone” on Sunday despite deadly violence which killed dozens of civilians, and praised Iraqi security forces. Meanwhile, Obama repeated his end-2011 goal for removing all U.S. troops from the country.

Scores of mortar rounds, rockets and roadside bombs exploded near polling stations across the country, killing 38 people, in an apparent effort to scare voters participating in the election for Iraq’s second full-term parliament since the 2003 U.S. invasion.Obama praised millions of Iraqis who voted despite the attacks and U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates qualified the election turn out of high(55-60%). The US president’s emphasis on Iraqi security forces’ success and performances during the elections supports his argument and hopes that U.S. troops will leave the country as scheduled to focus more squarely on the war in Afghanistan.

But if the election were to trigger a repeat of the sectarian bloodletting that killed tens of thousands of Iraqis in 2006-2007, Obama may be forced to rethink his timetable.

Obama did note Iraq would have difficult days ahead with further violence likely. He said he was mindful the electoral process was not over and that ballots must be counted, complaints heard, a parliament seated and leaders chosen.

During that process Iraq must be free to chart its own course like any sovereign, independent nation, and the president insisted that no one should seek to influence, exploit, or disrupt this period of transition.