Mussa made the remarks at a joint news conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Moasher, during which he also welcomed the signs of "progress" in the U.S.-Syrian row ahead of his visit to Damascus, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"Dangerous developments are taking place but we cannot back or accept" the presence of permanent military bases in Iraq, Mussa said in response to a question.

The New York Times reported Sunday that the United States hopes to establish a "long-term military relationship" with the future government of Iraq, which would involve maintaining four military bases.

But the Jordanian Foreign Minister said a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq must be "complete and comprehensive".

"U.S. troops must pull out as quickly as possible from Iraq," Moasher said.

Moasher and Mussa also insisted that Iraq's territorial unity must be preserved at all costs and reiterated the Arab position that the Iraqi people must chose their own leadership, rather than one imposed from outside.

"We agree on the need to maintain the unity and territorial integrity of Iraq and our efforts must focus on helping the Iraqi people form a new government chosen by the Iraqi people," Moasher said.

Mussa, who meets Tuesday with Syrian officials in Damascus, also welcomed "the progress made" to ease tension between the United States and Syria.

In recent days the U.S. administration increased pressure on Damascus, charging that Syria possessed chemical weapons, had smuggled military equipment into Iraq and provided a safe haven for associates of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

However, U.S. President George W. Bush Sunday appeared to soften his line, saying: "I'm confident the Syrian government has heard us, and I believe it when they say they want to cooperate with us."

Mussa said he was heartened when U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell "talked about consultation talks with Syria and the visit that he would make to Damascus" and by the "welcoming remarks made by the Syrian officials".

The Arab League chief, who arrived earlier Monday in Jordan, will meet Tuesday with King Abdullah II before heading to Damascus.

Little Likelihood Of Long-Term Presence

Rumsfeld said there was little likelihood of a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq

In a separate related development, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Monday there was little likelihood of a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq and said the emergence of a “friendly government” in Baghdad could be a reason to have fewer forces in the region.

Rumsfeld angrily denounced the New York Times story that said Washington is planning a long-term military relationship with an emerging Iraqi government that would give it access to bases in the country.

"The impression that is left around the world is that we plan to occupy the country, we plan to use their bases over a long period of time, and it's flat false," he said at a Pentagon briefing.

He said there had been "zero discussion" among top level Bush administration officials about the long-term use of four Iraqi bases now being used to support military operations against remnants of the former Iraqi regime.

"The likelihood of it seems to me to be so low that it does not surprise me that it has never been discussed in my presence," he said.

However, the United States plans to hold discussion with other governments in the region about changes in the U.S. military "footprint" in the region, he said.

"I would personally say a friendly Iraq that is not led by a Saddam Hussein would be a reason why we could have fewer forces in the region, not more, just logically," he said.