BEIJING, Nov. 10 -- The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the nearly 180-thousand-strong multi-national force in Iraq for a year.
The United States called the move a significant signal of international commitment to Iraq's political transition.
Samir Shakir Mahmood Sumaida'ie, representative of Iraq to the United Nations said he was happy the Security Council had accepted the request.
"I wish first to express the appreciation of my delegation, for the positive response of the Security Council to the request by the Prime Minister of Iraq to extend the mandate of the Multinational force and the DFI and the IAMB," he said.
The resolution, co-sponsored by the U.S., Britain, Denmark, Japan and Romania was adopted in response to a request from Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.
The current mandate authorizing the presence of the force expires December 31st, following parliamentary elections in Iraq on December 15, the end point of the political process as defined by the Security Council.
The resolution adopted extends the force's mandate until the end of 2006, with a review after eight months.
(Source: CRIENGLISH.com)
