Says victims are only seeking to participate in a democratic future

Expressing support for Afghanistan and its upcoming elections, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan condemned recent acts of terrorism against Afghan citizens who have registered to vote.

In a June 29 statement, McClellan said the victims "are only seeking to be a part of Afghanistan's democratic future," and he commended those who refuse to be intimidated by terrorists "in their quest to build a secure, stable, and democratic Afghanistan."

Following is the text of McClellan's statement:

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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
June 29, 2004

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

Elections in Afghanistan

Earlier today in Istanbul, the President and President Karzai discussed the upcoming elections in Afghanistan. The United States joins the international community in supporting Afghanistan and its upcoming electoral process. After years of suffering under a brutal and repressive Taliban regime, Afghanistan is free from tyranny and is no longer the safe haven for terrorist training. Today, the United States is proud to call Afghanistan a strong ally in the war on terror. The United States commends the Afghan people's refusal to be intimidated by terrorists in their quest to build a secure, stable, and democratic Afghanistan. The United States condemns these acts of terror against Afghan citizens who registered to vote, and are only seeking to be a part of Afghanistan's democratic future. The United States is firmly committed to supporting Afghanistan's journey to democracy and peace.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)