The Obama administration wants to extend three key provisions of the Patriot Act that are due to expire at the end of the year, U.S. Justice Department officials said Tuesday in Washington.

Lawmakers and civil rights groups had been pressing the Democratic administration to say whether it supports extending the post-Sept. 11, 2001, law's authority to access business records and monitor so-called lone wolf terrorists and conduct roving wiretaps.

The provision on business records has long been criticized by rights groups as giving the government access to the library records of citizens.

In a letter to lawmakers, Justice Department officials said they support extending those provisions of the law, although they are willing to consider additional privacy protections as long as they don't weaken the effectiveness of the law.

In July 2005, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to extend indefinitely most of the Patriot Act while limiting to 10 years two controversial provisions.

Considered a key part of U.S. President George W. Bush's war on terror, the Patriot Act was introduced after the 9/11 attacks against the U.S.

It gives the government unprecedented powers to investigate terror suspects, including greater access to educational, financial and medical records, without a judge's prior approval.