WASHINGTON (AFP) -- The commander of US forces in Iraq on Tuesday predicted it would take "a couple of months" for leaders to form a post-election government but downplayed fears of instability.

General Ray Odierno told US public television it was too soon to give exact predictions on Iraq's transition as final results have yet to be announced from Sunday's election.

"If they are close it will probably take a little bit longer; if someone has a bigger lead, it might happen a little bit quicker. But I believe we're talking about a couple of months," Odierno told the "PBS Newshour."

Odierno said he had been in close touch with Iraqi authorities about ensuring security after the country's second election since the 2003 US-led invasion.

"Clearly we understand that this is a transition time and transitions are always a time of risk," he said.

"But we have worked very hard with the government of Iraq ... to try to ensure that security will remain," he said. "I believe we will be able to do that through this critical period."

President Barack Obama earlier paid tribute to the "courage and resilience" of Iraqi voters who posted a 62.4 percent turnout despite periodic violence.

Obama has promised to withdraw all American troops from Iraq by the end of next year.