WASHINGTON (AP) - Eager to capitalize on Iraq's elections, President George W Bush yesterday continued to press fellow world leaders to support the new Baghdad government being formed after Sunday's voting.

In phone calls with four foreign leaders, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Bush talked up the importance of "maintaining this momentum" created by the elections, which occurred without the catastrophic rebel attacks that many had feared would mar the milestone in Iraq's transition to a stable democracy.

The president spoke by phone yesterday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Mexican President Vicente Fox.

The elections raised hopes at the White House that Iraqis could take over more of their country's security, allowing US troops to begin going home, and Bush has been holding a series of conversations in recent days with world leaders in hopes of boosting foreign aid to the new Iraqi government.

He also will use part of his State of the Union address tonight to urge other nations to support Iraqis in any way they can.
Sunday's election elected a 275-member National Assembly and lawmakers in 18 provincial legislatures. Results are expected to be available in about 10 days. Once installed, the assembly will pick a prime minister and government.

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