NBC NEWS- Iraq's Prime Minister said Monday all U.S. forces will be out of Iraq by the end of 2011.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told tribal leaders no U.S. forces would stay past 2011.

The White House insisted nothing is firm.

"An agreement has not been signed, and so from our perspective, until an agreement has been signed there is no agreement," said deputy White House Press Secretary Tony Fratto.

Administration officials say President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki did agree by video-conference Friday to have U.S. troops out of Iraq's towns and cities next year, and out of all of Iraq by the end of 2011.

There's no binding timetable, but it's still a sharp contrast to the President's past warnings against fixed dates.

Analysts say Maliki's statement aims to bolster his standing at home.

"They can talk about target dates for American withdrawal to address their political environment at home, but strategically they're also delighted to know we're not leaving yet," said The Brookings Institute's Michael O'Hanlon.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in Iraq last week, said terms have shifted for a reason.

"The surge worked, Iraqi forces have demonstrated that they are strong and getting stronger, we are making progress together," Rice said.

Secretary Rice said agreement is close on a broader security pact.

One change is that Iraq will have jurisdiction over private contractors like Blackwater Security.

Critics have said contractors in Iraq at times answered to no one.

Iraq wants the same control over U.S. troops, but the U.S. is not budging.

Nowhere are American soldiers subject to foreign laws and courts, and analysts say the U.S. won't change that standard here.