Pentagon chief says still focused on Iraq deal

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Virginia (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday dismissed suggestions that the United States should abandon plans to secure an agreement that would provide a legal basis for U.S. troops to operate in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires this year.

He indicated the Pentagon was not ready to ask the United Nations to renew that mandate despite disagreements with the Iraqi government over a new arrangement now being negotiated -- known as a status of forces agreement or SOFA.

"I think that we are going to continue working with the Iraqis on the SOFA," Gates told reporters during a visit to Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. "That's still the focus."

"I think there are multiple ways this thing could come out. Right now as far as I know we're still focused on the SOFA, at least from the Department of Defense's point of view."

The United Nations mandate authorizing the presence of U.S.-led forces in Iraq after the 2003 invasion expires at the end of 2008. The status of forces agreement would provide a legal basis for troops to stay and could set restrictions on their activities.

The United States and Iraq are also negotiating a second long-term deal known as a strategic framework agreement that would outline in a broad way the two states' political, diplomatic and economic relationship.

But the negotiations have been criticized both in Iraq and the United States.

U.S. Democrats say the Bush administration could use the agreements to tie the next president into current Iraq war policies. They also have complained that the Bush administration has not consulted on the agreements.

While little information about the negotiations has been released, the Iraqi government has made clear it disagrees with the United States on the deals.

The spokesman for Iraq's government this month said Iraq was looking into possible alternatives if it could not reach a deal, but he gave no details.

(Reporting by Kristin Roberts; editing by Mohammad Zargham)