Gates sought to dismiss concerns among critics that a planned US military accord with Iraq would tie the hands of future US presidents regarding the mandate of US troops in the war-torn country and create permanent US bases there.

"I think it is pretty clear that such an agreement would not talk about force levels. It would not involve, we have no interest in permanent bases," he told reporters on Thursday.

The US defence chief also insisted that discussions had just barely started on the on the still-to-be-negotiated Status of Forces Agreement. - DDNEWS