The government in Bogota has defended the agreement to protect US soldiers, pilots and sailors from prosecution for any wrongdoing, saying "immunity does not mean impunity."

But critics fear the contrary.

"Immunity for United States soldiers is not in any way justified," the former head of Colombia's constitutional court, Jose Gregorio Hernandez, told AFP.

"It violates the principle of equality vis-a-vis our own soldiers. This immunity could become impunity because... a slow and likely unsuccessful diplomatic process would be required (before justice could be applied)," he said.

The issue of the bases has also become contentious for Colombia's neighbors, notably leftwing anti-US nations Venezuela and Ecuador that fear they could be used to launch invasions.

Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia have all also expressed concern about the facilities, fearing a resurgence of US military might and meddling in South America after a rollback in the 1990s.

The US government and military have insisted that the bases -- three airbases, two army facilities and two navy bases -- simply extend US involvement in combating drug trafficking from Colombia. They say the number of personnel will be limited to 800.

Under a "Plan Colombia" launched in 1999, the United States has given Colombia more than 5.5 billion dollars in aid, much of it spent on military hardware and training to fight cocaine-running gangs and leftwing rebels.

While an agreement in principle has been struck on the bases, a spokesman for the US State Department, Ian Kelly, told reporters on Tuesday that a final signature would likely come in "a few more weeks."

Inside Colombia, the granting of immunity in the deal has raised hackles.

Some recall with anger a 2007 case in which a Colombian woman claimed her 12-year-old daughter had been raped by a US army sergeant and a US civilian contractor attached to the Plan Colombia program.

Others discount assertions by the Colombian and US governments that any US personnel accused of crimes will be fairly judged by US courts.

"No-one will believe, given the current international situation, that 'Gringo courts' or US jurisdiction will exist," an international analyst in Colombia, Juan Carlos Eastman, told AFP.

"Immunity means impunity in practice," he said.

A former defense minister, Rafael Samudio, questioned the lack of information on the issue and noted that the United States consistently sought to keep its military personnel protected from non-US prosecution.

"The United States by principle does not allow a soldier to be judged in another country or hand one over. That's why it has not signed on to the ICC (International Criminal Court)," he said.

"The United States has a completely different concept of its military than us," he said.

The unease generated by the immunity for the US personnel prompted a response from Colombia's foreign minister Jaime Bermudez before he flew to Washington for further discussions on the bases.

There would be no US courts martial or US jurisdiction in Colombia under the terms of the deal, he said on Sunday.

Colombian law enforcement officers could participate in the investigation of any transgression.

He insisted that there was "a possibility" of asking for immunity to be lifted against US personnel, and that in any case "the United States has promised to pay any indemnities" arising from a criminal act.

Importantly, he said, US civilian contractors would not be covered by the immunity clause.

earlier related report
US defends deal to use Colombian bases
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wants to reassure skeptical Latin American countries over US intentions for an accord to give the United States access to military bases in Colombia.

Clinton and visiting Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez on Tuesday defended the defense cooperation deal, expected to be signed soon, that will boost their longstanding military ties.

"I want to be clear about what this agreement does and does not. First: the agreement does not create US bases in Colombia, it does provide US access to Colombian bases," Clinton said after a meeting with Bermudez.

In a direct response to Clinton's statement, Venezuela's firebrand leader Hugo Chavez -- who has led regional outrage on the issue -- claimed bluntly that the diplomats were lying.

"They know what they are telling the world is not true," Chavez told state television. "Nobody will believe" what Clinton and Bermudez are saying, he added.

Chavez has previously cast the accord as an attempt to encircle Venezuela, and warned of a military escalation.

The top US diplomat said the governments in Washington and Bogota hoped to sign the agreement "in the near future."

The deal, finalized last week, is expected to give the US access to three Colombian air bases, two navy bases and two army bases.

Leftist leaders in Venezuela and Ecuador, which border Colombia, have loudly denounced the agreement as a ruse to establish bases that threaten their governments.

The US plans also have raised concerns among more moderate Latin American leaders.

In Colombia, the government has found itself on the defensive over whether the agreement would give US troops immunity from prosecution in Colombian courts.

Clinton sought to counter some of these concerns, stating that the accord aimed at targeting groups inside Colombia.

"I certainly hope that anyone who is speaking out about the agreement will take the time to understand that this is built on years of agreements between the United States and Colombia.

"This agreement does not pertain to other countries. This is about the bilateral cooperation between the United States and Colombia regarding security matters within Colombia.

"It will allow us to continue working together to meet the challenges posed by narco-traffickers, terrorists, and other illegal armed groups in Colombia," she said, adding, "These threats are real."

Chavez, leading opposition to any further US deployment in Colombia, warned at the weekend: "We do not want war, we hate it. But we must prepare for it."

Venezuela, he claimed, is "number one on the list."

"We are the first target of the (United States). Using Colombia and the bases in Aruba and Curacao, they are surrounding us," Chavez said.

Clinton said there would be "no significant permanent increase in the US military presence in Colombia," pointing to a Congressional cap on troop levels.

According to the US State Department there are currently 800 soldiers and 600 contractors in the South American nation.

Colombia's Bermudez said the agreement would be in line with "the principle of non-intervention, and the principle of the territorial integrity of states."

He added that Colombia would be willing to enter similar agreements "not just with the United States, but with other states in the same vein."

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