Iraq says, "Thanks"

One government about to hand over power to another party in a relatively peaceful manner and based on the rule of law. That is one way of saying thank you.

The leader of the secular alliance that narrowly won Iraq's parliamentary election has offered to work with all parties to form a coalition government.

Iyad Allawi said his Iraqiya bloc would start by talking with the rival State of Law alliance of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, which it beat by two seats.

Mr Maliki has refused to accept the result and said he would challenge the count through the courts.

Both the UN and US envoys to Iraq have said the 7 March poll was credible.

OK - not smooth, but that's OK. A democracy as messy as ours.

I'll take it.