New York: As US hopes for a speedy United Nations (UN) approval of a new resolution on Iraq dimmed, Pentagon said it may have to adjust its timetable for a military build-up in the Persian Gulf and planners were looking at ways of slowing the deployment of US troops to the region.

While the Pentagon has yet to reveal a firm deployment schedule, a media report said, troops and equipment have started flowing to the region, setting the stage for what officials had indicated would be a surge in forces to give President George W Bush the option of attacking Iraq as early as January.

Senior defence officials were quoted as saying they knew of no decision yet to halt this flow. However, military planners were considering ways of adjusting it to accommodate a new round of UN weapons inspections that may begin later and last longer than once envisioned.

"It's fair to say there's some re-calibration going on," one senior Defence official was quoting by 'Washington Post'.

In view of the diplomatic and political uncertainties, it said, one option under consideration by Pentagon was to continue to build-up military equipment in the Gulf region, but delay the dispatch of troops and allow some forces already there to proceed home with normal rotation.

For instance, two aircraft carriers currently within striking distance of Iraq - the Lincoln and George Washington - have faced the likelihood of their stay being extended past the end of their regular six-month tour later this year.

But officials said the carriers may be permitted to return home following the arrival of two other carriers, Constellation and Harry S Truman, due to leave US ports in November and December.

PTI