WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The United States will consider the amendments presented by the Iraqi government for the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), and he is confident that the agreement will get passed, U.S. President George W. Bush said on Wednesday.

    "We received amendments today from the government. We are analyzing those amendments. We obviously want to be helpful and constructive without undermining basic principle," Bush told reporters in White House, where he talked with Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani.

    "I remain very hopeful and confident that the SOFA will get passed," Bush said.

    "We do believe that it is in the interest of the Iraqi government, it's in the interest of this country, and we have been and we will continue to support it and support its ratification," said Barzani, the president of Iraq's Kurdish regional government.

    The two countries are at odds over the SOFA security pact, which the United States needs as a legitimate support for the station of its troops beyond 2009 after the current United Nations mandate ends on Dec. 31.

    A withdrawal timetable and immunity for the U.S. military personnel stationed in Iraq have been among the most contested issues.