A top Iraqi official said on Monday that the United States might keep its troops in the occupied country but in “limited numbers”.

A top Iraqi official said on Monday that the United States might keep its troops in the occupied country but in “limited numbers”.

An apparent impasse between Iraq and US stances has been taking place, with Washington asking for “legal” immunity for its occupation troops serving beyond 2011,and Baghdad saying there “is no need” for this immunity.

"The US is insisting on that, and Iraq is insisting on not giving that", Ali al-Alaak, the general secretary of the cabinet told AFP news agency.
He said there were a variety of options being considered, adding that "there could be no training" at all.

Asked what he foresaw as the most likely scenario, Alaak said "there might be troops, but in very limited numbers".

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Thursday that any US forces remaining in Iraq beyond 2011, when all American troops must pull out under the terms of a bilateral security pact, would require “legal” immunity.

However, Iraqi politicians refused giving this immunity. Following a two-hour meeting hosted by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, leaders of the country's main political blocs said they agreed on “the need for training of Iraqi forces and the purchase military equipment”, according to a statement issued by government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh.

But "the leaders agreed there is no need to give immunity for trainers", Dabbagh added.
The statement made no mention of how many trainers would be required, for how long or for what specific needs.

About 43,500 US troops remain in Iraq, and all of them must withdraw by the end of the year under the bilateral security accord, which remains in force if no post-2011 deal is agreed.