Maliki hints at US troop presence beyond 2011

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki hinted that US troops may remain in Iraq beyond the end of 2011, the deadline set under a bilateral agreement reached last year."Pursuant to the agreement, in 2011, the military presence of the Americans will take end in Iraq," Maliki told a US think-tank."Nevertheless, if the Iraqi forces required further training and further support, we shall examine this then at that time based on the needs of Iraq...."