| GEO World | | Obama congratulates Merkel after poll victory | Updated at: 0603 PST, Monday, September 28, 2009
 WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama called German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday to offer warm congratulations on her sweeping reelection victory, the White House said.
Obama and Merkel "agreed that with the election of a strong German government, our cooperation will further strengthen and deepen," according a statement released by the White House press office.
"The United States and Germany are close allies, and partner together around the world to promote freedom, security and prosperity," the statement read.
Obama "looks forward to continued close cooperation with Chancellor Merkel to address our common challenges in the years ahead," it added.
Preliminary results showed the 55-year-old Merkel's conservative Christian Union bloc (CDU/CSU) as the clear winners with about 33.5 percent of the vote. |  |
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