US says looking to work closely with Greek poll winners

 The White House said Monday it hoped to work closely with Greece's new government after the radical left-wing Syriza party stormed to power on an anti-austerity platform, AFP reports.

"We congratulate Greece on successfully completing its parliamentary elections and we look forward to working closely with its next government," Mark Stroh, a spokesman for the White House's National Security Council, told AFP in New Delhi during a visit by US President Barack Obama.

The comments come after Syriza routed the New Democracy party of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in Sunday's poll, putting Greece on a collision course with European and international creditors.

After his victory, Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras repeated his campaign pledge to renegotiate the terms of Greece's 240-billion-euro ($269-billion) bailout with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that as the new Greek government begins work Washington "will continue to support its domestic reforms and international efforts to foster Greece's economic recovery."

"The US interest has been and remains that Greece emerge from its prolonged economic crisis stronger and more stable," she told reporters.

The United States remained in touch with the EU and the IMF, Psaki said, adding: "Greece has made significant progress on a very difficult economic adjustment and reform program."

"There are indications that the economy is poised for renewed growth, but many challenges remain," Psaki stressed.