KAMPALA, March 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Presidents of several African and Arabian countries have sent congratulatory messages to Yoweri Museveni on his re-election as president of Uganda.

    President Museveni won the presidential election with 59.28 percent of the votes while his main rival Kizza Besigye got 37.36 percent of the votes.

    According to state-owned The New Vision on Thursday, the messages came from President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Ismail Omar of Djibouti as well as First Vice President Salva Kiir Mayardit of Sudan and King Abdullah II of Jordan.

    Kagame said in his message that "your victory in the just concluded election is a clear manifestation of the confidence thatthe people of Uganda have in your excellency's ability to steer your country into a bright and more prosperous future. May I take this opportunity to assure your excellency of our commitment to further strengthen the friendly relations existing between our two countries and peoples."

    Kibaki wrote that "your excellency's re-election as president is a manifestation of the confidence the people of Uganda have in your leadership."

    Kikwete congratulated Museveni on the re-election and commended Uganda for maintaining peaceful elections and the competent manner in which the transition to multiparty politics was handled.

    King Abdullah II of Jordan wrote that "on the occasion of your excellency's re-election as president of the Republic of Uganda, the people and government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan join me in extending our most sincere congratulations."   Enditem