WASHINGTON - BARACK Obama is to set out his plan to pull most US combat troops out of Iraq by August 2010 when he makes his first visit as president to a military base on Friday, his spokesman said.

An early opponent of the conflict launched in March 2003 by his predecessor George W. Bush to oust Saddam Hussein, Mr Obama ordered US commanders soon after taking office in January to map out a withdrawal.

US news media reported on Friday that Mr Obama told congressional leaders at a White House meeting on Thursday that he intends to pull US combat troops out by August 2010.

Mr Obama also reportedly told the top legislators that he plans to keep between 35,000 and 50,000 US support troops in Iraq.

If confirmed, the plan would pull combat troops out of Iraq 19 months after the president took office, slightly longer than the 16 months Obama promised while on the campaign trail in 2008.

There are currently 142,000 US troops in Iraq.

Under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed with the Iraqi government last year, Washington agreed to pull all troops out of Iraq by the end of 2011.

Ahead of the announcement, some prominent Democrats criticised the president's plan, saying that the 'residual force' of 50,000 troops is too large.

A leading Republican lawmaker said Mr Obama had assured him that he had a 'Plan B' in place and would 'revisit' the arrangement if the security situation deteriorates in Iraq.

'Iraq faces significant challenges in 2009, including the national parliamentary election in December. Our commanders must have the flexibility they need in order to respond to these challenges, and President Obama assured me that there is a 'Plan B,'' Mr John McHugh, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said in a statement.

McHugh also indicated broad support for what the statement described as 'the president's plan to withdraw US combat troops from Iraq by August 2010.'

Mr Obama's pledge came during talks on Thursday at the White House that also included Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said Mr McHugh. -- AFP