Baghdad (AP) Iraq's government isn't endorsing a fixed date, but a spokesman says it's hoped U.S. combat units can be out of Iraq sometime in 2010.

The announcement follows talks today between Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama and prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki in Baghdad.

The timeframe is similar to Obama's proposal to pull back combat troops within 16 months. The Iraqi government has been trying to clarify its position on a possible troop withdrawal since Al-Malikc was quoted in a German magazine last week saying he supported obama's timetable.

Obama, meanwhile, has been getting his first on-the-ground inspection of Iraq since 2006.

Obama's trip started with a stop in Basra, where Britain has about 4,000 troops stationed. From there he flew to Baghdad. The Democratic Presidential Candidate was seen arriving for a meeting with prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki in Baghdad's heavily guarded
Green Zone.

Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed and Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, both critics of the war, are there with Obama.