The US asked Iraq for permission to maintain a troop presence there to 2015, but US and Iraqi negotiators agreed to limit authorisation to 2011, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said.

"It was a US proposal for the date which is 2015, and an Iraqi one which is 2010, then we agreed to make it 2011," Mr Talabani said in an interview with al-Hurra TV, a transcript of which was posted on his party's website yesterday.

"Iraq has the right, if necessary, to extend the presence of these troops," he said.

Details have been slowly emerging about negotiations for the anticipated bilateral pact, which will provide a legal basis for US troops to remain in Iraq after a United Nations mandate expires at the end of this year.

US officials stressed that the negotiations, although close to conclusion, continue, and declined comment on the specifics of Mr Talabani's statements.

"As we've said, negotiations are ongoing and we are not going to get into the details until an agreement is concluded," an embassy official in Baghdad said.