Iraqi PM dismisses comments on extended stay for US troops

Baghdad: Iraq's prime minister on Saturday dismissed comments by the top government spokesman that some US soldiers may need to stay for another 10 years.

An Iraq-US security pact calls for a complete US withdrawal by 2011.

Spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh told reporters in Washington that American troops might be needed to continue training Iraq's security forces well past the agreed 2011 deadline.

"What was announced about the Iraqi forces needing 10 years in order to be ready is only his personal point of view," Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki's office said in a statement.

During a session at the Pentagon, Al Dabbagh also told reporters the Iraqi government would be open to negotiations that would keep troops in Iraq past the agreed date.

"We do understand that the Iraqi military is not going to be built out in the three years. We do need many more years. It might be 10 years," he said.

His comments have renewed debate over the pact, which takes effect January 1 but must be approved by Iraqi voters by the end of July.