The Iraqi government said Sunday that its negotiations with the United States over their future relations are still in the early stage and the sovereignty will not be sacrificed.

The remarks came amid strong voice in Iraq against a planned agreement, which is expected to enable the US a long-term military presence in Iraq.

The two sides intended to wrap up by the end of July the negotiations which commenced early this year.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement that "the Iraqi government has a vision of the agreement different from the one speculated by the US," and the talks "are still in early stages".

"The Iraqi government stressed preservation of Iraq's territorial, maritime and aerial sovereignty along with its internal and external affairs," Dabbagh said.

The agreement is to replace a UN mandate for US-led forces that expires at the end of the year.

US officials have said they were not seeking a permanent military presence here.

However, some Iraqis were worried that US troops would be in Iraq for years or longer and their actions would not be under the control of Iraqi laws.

Some Iraqi Shiite and Sunni political figures have criticized the government for seeking such a deal with Washington.

Tens of thousands of Iraqis took to the streets Friday to protest against the agreement. Most of them were followers of anti-US Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr who called on loyalists to stage such demonstrations every week until the agreement is cancelled.

(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2008)