The United States hailed Iraq's legislative elections as 'a significant milestone' shortly after results showed former prime minister Iyad Allawi's secular bloc won the most seats.
"We congratulate the Iraqi people, the Iraqi government," a State Department spokesman said.
Dr Allawi's Iraqiya party won 91 of the 352 seats, two more than Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law coalition. Dr Allawi pledged to "work with all sides" to form the next government. He has 30 days to do so. If he fails, President Jalal Talabani will name the leader of a different bloc to form a coalition.
Mr Maliki has vowed to challenge the results, alleging irregularities in the counting process. After the final figures were released, he told a news conference that they remained "preliminary" and "not final".
Shortly before the results were announced, twin bomb attacks in the central Iraqi town of Khales, northeast of Baghdad, killed at least 42 people and injured 65 others.
Iyad Allawi
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