WASHINGTON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama is likely to decide to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq within a timetable of around 19 months with a formal announcement expected by the end of the week, officials said on Tuesday.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the subject, said Obama has not yet reached a formal decicion on withdrawal options.

Timelines under discussion include the 16-month withdrawal that Obama proposed as a centerpiece of his presidential campaign, a 23-month option sought by top U.S. commanders and a compromise option of 19 months.

An administration official said Obama was likely to come down between the 16-month timeline he favored as a candidate and the 23 months proposed by commanders.

"The president has not made any final decision on Iraq policy," another official said.

An announcement could come on Thursday, officials said. (Reporting by Andrew Gray, David Morgan and Ross Colvin)

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