General George Casey, however, said reductions from the current level of 127,000 troops will be gradual, occurring as Iraqi security forces take responsibility for more territory.

"I'm confident that we will be able to continue to take reductions over the course of this year," Casey said. "Yet it's both a security situation and the progress of the Iraqi security forces."

Casey, who spoke to reporters after meetings here with US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, highlighted signs of progress but acknowledged that conditions are complicated by sectarian violence, illegal armed groups and Iranian backing of Shiite insurgents.

"The security environment is quite complex. And it's a constantly changing environment. But it has increased in its complexity, really, since the December elections and in the aftermath of the Samarra bombing," he said.

Rumsfeld said Casey would not make recommendations on force levels until after he has had completed consultations with the new Iraqi government led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Iraqi national security adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie said in a Washington Post article Tuesday that the two sides have developed an informal "road map" which envisages a reduction of the US force levels to below 100,00 this year.

Further, Rubaie said the goal was for most US troops to be out of the country by 2008.

Asked about it, Casey said the coalition and Iraqis do a monthly assessment of conditions in each governorate with an eye to judging when they will be ready to assume full control over their territory.

"There have been no discussions between any Iraqi authorities and myself that tied that to US troop reductions," he said.

Casey also said he opposed a timetable for a US withdrawal as proposed by some Democrats this week in Congress.

"I don't like it. I feel it would limit my flexibility. I think it would give the enemy a fixed timetable," he said.

"And I think it would send a terrible signal to a new government of national unity in Iraq that's trying to stand up and get its legs underneath it," he said.

Casey had said earlier this year he expected to make recommendations this spring, which ended Wednesday, and that he anticipated "fairly substantial" reductions.

The number of troops has come down from a base level of 138,000 to 127,000, but the general said it will rise temporarily in the coming weeks rotating units overlap.

Rumsfeld said US force levels might spike higher at times, and said he supported keeping forces outside the country available to Casey "on a relatively short tether."

Three combat battalions have already been called up from such a reserve force in Kuwait, leaving behind only about 1,400 troops attached to a headquarters and support units.

A Marine Expeditionary Unit, normally about 2,000 troops, is also on call, Casey said.

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