Washington, February 22 (QNA) - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton while congratulating the people of Yemen for the successful presidential election has assured support as the country addressed the challenges of implementing reforms. In a media statement released by the US Department of State, said, "On behalf of the United States, I want to congratulate the people of Yemen on the successful presidential election.
"This is another important step forward in their democratic transition process and continues the important work of political and constitutional reform."
The election sends a clear message that the people of Yemen are looking forward to a brighter democratic future. But there is still more work to be done, she cautioned.
Cautioning "there is still more work to be done," she took note of a scheduled national dialogue conference meant to address critical issues of national unity and the fundamental structure of Yemeni government and society.
She also noted that steps are needed to address urgent economic, social and humanitarian challenges facing the country.
Yemen presidential poll and the national dialogue conference are part of the peace deal brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh signed the deal in November 2011 in return for immunity from prosecution, a move that saw him hand over power to his deputy, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the only consensus candidate in Tuesday's poll.
As new president, Hadi will lead a two-year transitional government tasked with amending the constitution and holding parliamentary elections.
"The US, along with its partners in the international community, will continue to support Yemen as it works to implement these reforms and confront these challenges so that all Yemenis will have the opportunity to realise their potential," she said. (QNA)