Iraq seeks US troops pullout in three years

Baghdad: A draft agreement between the United States and Iraq contains no fixed dates for US forces to withdraw, but Iraq would like combat troops out by the end of 2011, government spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh said on Friday.

"The draft does not contain definite dates," Al Dabbagh said. He said negotiators were proposing in a 27-point draft that US troops end patrols of Iraqi towns by the middle of next year and US combat troops leave Iraq by the end of 2011.

But he made clear those deadlines were not yet fixed, and represented the government's negotiating position, not an agreed text: "This is the Iraqi government's view and what the government wants." US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Thursday to help push the deal.

The Iraqi government comments came as President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki spoke by secure video as work on the 2011 withdrawal plan.

"There are still discussions ongoing. It's not done until it's done. And the discussions are really ongoing. And ongoing and ongoing. But hopefully drawing to a conclusion," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said on Friday, adding that Bush hoped a deal would be reached soon.

A draft of the agreement is being circulated to Iraqi political leaders for their approval.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Baghdad unannounced on Thursday to help prod the deal along. She denied that a final agreement had been reached, but said it was close, and any timelines for withdrawal would have to be "feasible".