Iraqi PM wants troops to leave 'as soon as possible'

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki says US troops should leave the country "as soon as possible", according to a magazine report.

He also called US presidential candidate Barack Obama's suggestion of 16 months "the right timeframe for a withdrawal".

In an interview with Germany's Der Spiegel magazine, Mr Maliki said he was not seeking to endorse Mr Obama.

The Illinois senator and likely Democratic nominee has pledged to withdraw combat troops from Iraq within 16 months if he is elected.

"That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes," Mr Maliki was quoted as saying.

"Those who operate on the premise of short time periods in Iraq today are being more realistic. Artificially prolonging the tenure of US troops in Iraq would cause problems."

Asked when US forces would leave Iraq, he responded: "As soon as possible, as far we're concerned."

In Iraq, Sadiq al-Rikabi, an adviser to Mr Maliki, declined to discuss the prime minister's published remarks, but he said Iraqi officials do not intend to be "part of the electoral campaign in the United States".

"We will deal with any administration that comes to power," he said.

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said: "In the interview, the Prime Minister made clear that any decision will be based on continuing positive developments - as he and the president both did in their joint statement yesterday.

"It is our shared view that should the recent security gains continue, we will be able to meet our joint aspirational time horizons."

On Friday, the White House announced that US President George Bush and Mr Maliki had agreed to set a "general time horizon" for bringing more US troops home from the war.