"In line with (UN Security Council) Resolution 1546, we have the power to call for this withdrawal," Samir Sumaydai told AFP ahead of the opening of the two-day conference in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

"This issue will be decided depending on the level of violence and after the training of Iraqi security forces has been completed. When we reach that point, we will tell them (the US forces) goodbye," said Sumaydai.

"So it would be wrong to set a date (during the conference). The elected government (after January 30 polls) will decide what is the right time and that moment has not come yet," he said.

A draft Sharm el-Sheikh declaration is based on an Egyptian text that was amended during several preparatory meetings held in Cairo, amid wrangling between Washington and Paris, which wanted a fixed date for a pullout.

While not setting a time limit for the deployment of the US-led multinational forces, it reiterates that their mandate is "not open-ended" and would run out in keeping with Resolution 1546.

The resolution calls for their mandate to be reviewed at the request of the Iraqi government or 12 months after the Security Council vote which took place last June.

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