The United States said Monday that it expects to be working with Iraq's new leaders, and believes they are committed to an "inclusive and representative" government.

"We look forward to working with the new government and supporting them as they move forward... on putting the leadership in place, drafting a constitution and then holding an election at the end of the year for a permanent representative government," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said at a press briefing.

Quoting an Iraqi leader as saying there would not be a Shiite or an Islamic government and that Iraqis were working for a democratic leader, McClellan said, "I think Iraqi leaders have shown they are committed to a government that is inclusive and representative."

US President George W. Bush issued a congratulatory message on Sunday as a coalition dominated by Shiite Islamic parties emerged with the most votes from Iraq's historic election.

"The world saw long lines of Iraqi men and women voting in a free and fair election for the first time in their lives," Bush said. "The United States and our coalition partners can all take pride in our role in making that great day possible."

The US State Department also called the Iraqi election "a positive and significant accomplishment" and encouraged Iraqis whowere not elected to remain involved in the political process.

The Iraqi electoral commission announced Sunday that the UnitedIraqi Alliance, the main Shiite list backed by Iraq's Shiite leader Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, won 48.1 percent of votes in the Jan. 30 parliamentary elections. It won 4.075 million votes.

A Kurdish alliance was the second with 2.175 million votes, while 1.168 million votes went to interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's list.