The report, which cited senior defense and military officials, said retired four-star Army general Gary Luck largely backs a plan by US commanders in Iraq to change the military's key mission after the January 30 poll from fighting insurgents to training Iraqi forces.

"The aim would be to double or even triple the number of trainers now at work with Iraqi security forces, up to as many as 8,000 or 10,000, though General Luck has not mentioned a specific number," the report said.

A senior US official, who has been briefed on the general's initial conclusions, said the plan to speed up the training of Iraq's armed forces would draw on a mix of US personnel already in Iraq.

In some case, US trainers would even fight alongside Iraqi forces. The paper said two US military advisers have already died in skirmishes alongside Iraqi units.

"American forces would work closely with Iraqis in the most dangerous parts of the country, but would still take the lead combat role there" in the foreseeable future, the report said.

Luck, who is due to report his findings to US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld following a two-week assignment to Iraq, is also likely to recommend that Iraqi forces need more advanced weaponry and better training, the report claimed.

Some Iraqis forces might also require American advisers alongside in order to call in airstrikes, it said.

The report said the training of more Iraqi troops could also free up US troops to beef up security along Iraq's borders amid fears foreign insurgents continue to flow into the country.

US officials and lawmakers have sparred in recent weeks over the precise number of Iraq's security forces. The administration of US President George W. Bush claims they number over 120,000 personnel, but some opposition Democrats say they only number 4,000.

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