"I've said a number of times that I don't think the administration has been forthcoming in terms of an estimate as to how many forces for how long," said Senator Carl Levin, a top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"All of America has a deep concern about the situations both in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Senator John Warner, a Republican who heads the committee.

Warner and Levin were among 11 senators who met Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld Tuesday to talk about defense legislation and the postwar situation in Iraq.

The Bush administration said the Iraq war has cost some US$30 billion so far, but officials have not made clear how much more money the country need for the reconstruction and hunt for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

US Congress has been pressing the Pentagon to disclose an estimate of the costs as soon as possible.

Warner said he discussed with Senate majority leader Bill Frist Monday about the need for Rumsfeld to come before the Senate.

A number of senators, who are scheduled to visit Iraq to see the occupation forces, predicted Monday that American troops will stay in Iraq for as long as five years.

(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2003)