Iraq wary of president-elect's policies

Many in Iraq said yesterday they don't expect an immediate shift in US policy toward their country when Barack Obama takes over as the new US president, despite his calls for a complete withdrawal of US troops within 16 months.

But top Iraqi officials said they do think the new president-elect's perspective on the war in Iraq differs greatly from current US President George W. Bush.

"We don't expect any change to happen overnight or any hasty change in US policy and commitment toward Iraq," Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told Al-Arabiyah TV moments after Obama claimed victory over Republican John McCain.