The Bush administration yesterday responded with cold words toward Iraq's proposal to amend a draft bilateral security pact.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters that the door to open talks on the amendments proposed by the Iraqi government is very narrow, if not completely shut.

"It will just be a very high bar for them (the Iraqis) to clear for us to change anything (in the draft pact)," she said.

"It might be something we can work with, it might not," added Perino, arguing that the existing draft is the "best offer" from the U.S. side.

Earlier in the day an Iraqi government spokesman said the Iraqi cabinet is to send the amendments of the draft pact to the U.S. side within few days.

The United States and Iraq are at odds over the agreement, which the former needs as a legitimate support for the station of its troops beyond 2009 after the current UN mandate ends on Dec 31.

Major Iraqi political blocs have raised objections to some points of the draft agreement.

A withdrawal timetable and immunity for the U.S. military personnel are among the most contested issues.