Despite the US government's firm dismissal of any pullout plan for US troops in Iraq, the Pentagon on Monday acknowledged the "growing consensus" for reducing troop level there.

The Pentagon's chief spokesman Lawrence DiRita told a press conference that as the US military continues to hand over security responsibilities to Iraqi security forces, it will be possible to further reduce beyond the baseline of 138,000 US soldiers.

That is, he said, "a more or less growing consensus."

However, DiRita said no decisions have been made on US force levels next year except from drawing down the about 20,000 troops used for a temporary buildup through the December 15 elections.

"It is likely we will get down to the baseline after the elections," he said, referring to the core force of about 138,000 troops the United States has maintained in Iraq since April 2004.

DiRita indicated that further reduction is possible, "but there just has been no decisions made."

He said George Casey, the US commander in Iraq, has not made any recommendations on force levels next year, but has laid out alternate approaches that could be taken depending on conditions there.

DiRita noted that US President George W. Bush is scheduled to deliver a key speech on Iraq Wednesday, which will be focused on the progress US forces have made in turning over security to Iraqis.

Local analysts said there are growing indications that the Bush administration is cautiously taking steps to reduce US military role in Iraq, amid amounting political pressure to bring US soldiers home in the face of rising casualties and an unrelenting insurgency.

Source: Xinhua