UNITED NATIONS, JUNE 25 (AP/UNB) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated Egypt's president-elect and commended the Egyptian people for the peaceful atmosphere of their first free presidential election in history.

Islamist Mohammed Morsi was declared the winner of the election Sunday, closing the tumultuous first phase of democratic transition since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.

U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said in a statement that Ban "trusts that the President-elect will spare no effort in ensuring the people of Egypt realize their aspirations for greater democracy." The U.N. chief "stresses the need to strengthen and build strong, independent institutions and to allow civil society to flourish."