Iraqi prime minister 'not backing Obama timetables on combat troop pullout'

Baghdad: Iraq's government spokesman says Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki is not personally endorsing any specific timeframe for possible US troops withdrawals.

The statement on Sunday by Ali Al Dabbagh came in response to an article by Germany's Der Spiegel magazine that quoted Al Maliki as favouring the 16-month withdrawal window proposed by US presidential candidate Barack Obama, who is scheduled to visit Iraq soon.

Al Dabbagh says Al Maliki's views were misunderstood by Der Spiegel and that the prime minister backs a general vision of pulling out US combat forces based on talks with Washington and security conditions in the country.

Obama arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday. Iraq is expected to be his next stop.