The US government is close to reaching an agreement with the Iraqi government over its long term military role in the country but will not seek “permanent” bases in the nation.

Bush administration officials told Al Jazeera that they expect to finalise a deal by the end of July over the so-called Status of Forces agreement, or SOFA.

The agreement if ratified will replace the current United Nations mandate authorising US troops to remain in the nation, which expires in December 2008.

In response to called protests against the agreement by prominent Muslims in Iraq David Satterfield, a senior adviser on Iraq at the US state department, told Al Jazeera that the agreement would make explicit that the US was not seeking “permanent” military bases in the country.

The Transnational Institute currently reports US military bases in foreign lands at 737 including many dating back to World War II.