Election 2012: World reaction to Barack Obama's victory

President Barack Obama's re-election in the United States elicited strong feelings -- from optimism to skepticism -- around the world. A sampling of global reaction:

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"One of the first things I want to talk to Barack about is how we must do more to try and solve this crisis (in Syria). Above all, congratulations to Barack. I've enjoyed working with him, I think he's a very successful U.S. president and I look forward to working with him in the future."-- British Prime Minister David Cameron, on a visit to Syrian refugees on the Jordanian border.

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"The bond between Europe and North America, based upon the shared values on which our alliance was founded over 60 years ago, remains as strong, and as important to the preservation of Euro-Atlantic peace and security as ever. President Obama has demonstrated outstanding leadership in maintaining this vital bond." -- NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

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"I will continue to work with President Obama to preserve the strategic interests of Israel's citizens." -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had a strained relationship with the American president over Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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   "During the last four years when Obama was U.S. president, no breakthrough happened in relations between Iran and the US. At the beginning of his first term the situation was a bit better, but as he went on the relations got much worse, with the sanctions being imposed. So I think the outcome of the elections that was just held will not make any difference for Iran." -- Amir Karimi, a resident of the Iranian capital, Tehran.

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"As a mother and as a grandmother who raises boy children, I think that the symbolism of having a black man occupy the highest office is something that can make my children very aspirational to know that this is possible, you know, in their lifetime" -- Zindzi Mandela, daughter of former South African President Nelson Mandela.