UN Security Council extends mandate of US-led force in Iraq

UNITED NATIONS – The UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously extended until the end of next year the mandate of the US-led force in Iraq, a move immediately hailed by Washington and London ahead of key Iraqi polls next month.

The council voted 15-0 “to extend the mandate of the multinational force, as set forth in Resolution 1546 until December 2006.” The extension had been requested by Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari in a letter sent to the council late last month.Top Iraqi officials have repeatedly said they want the US-led force to stay because the country’s fledgling army and police forces are too weak to maintain internal order.”The unanimous adoption of this resolution is a vivid demonstration of broad international support for a federal, democratic, pluralistic and unified Iraq,” US ambassador to the UN John Bolton said after the vote.In a concession to French and Russian objections, Washington had agreed that the Security Council would review the mandate on June 15 of next year, diplomats said.The resolution, sponsored by the United States, Britain, Japan, Romania and Denmark, said the mandate of the force “shall be reviewed at the request of the government of Iraq, or no later than June 15, 2006, and declares that it will terminate this mandate earlier if requested by the government of Iraq.”It also decided to extend until December 31, 2006 arrangements for depositing into the Development Fund for Iraq proceeds from export sales of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas.It said provisions for depositing those proceeds shall be reviewed at the request of the Iraqi government, or no later than June 15, 2006.”Addressing these issues now will facilitate continued international support for Iraq’s security and will give the newly elected Iraqi government time to assume office, address constitutional questions and consolidate its authority before confronting issues such as those addressed in this resolution,” Bolton said.Britain’s UN envoy Emyr Jones Parry said Tuesday’s vote “underlines the support of the international community again for the sort of outcome we want in Iraq”.Iraq’s UN envoy Samir Sumaida’ie also hailed the mandate extension and sounded an upbeat note about his country’s future.”We will defeat the terrorists in Iraq and we will build a new country based on the principle of the rule of law, respect for human rights and equality for all,” he said.- Nampa-AFPThe extension had been requested by Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari in a letter sent to the council late last month.Top Iraqi officials have repeatedly said they want the US-led force to stay because the country’s fledgling army and police forces are too weak to maintain internal order.”The unanimous adoption of this resolution is a vivid demonstration of broad international support for a federal, democratic, pluralistic and unified Iraq,” US ambassador to the UN John Bolton said after the vote.In a concession to French and Russian objections, Washington had agreed that the Security Council would review the mandate on June 15 of next year, diplomats said.The resolution, sponsored by the United States, Britain, Japan, Romania and Denmark, said the mandate of the force “shall be reviewed at the request of the government of Iraq, or no later than June 15, 2006, and declares that it will terminate this mandate earlier if requested by the government of Iraq.”It also decided to extend until December 31, 2006 arrangements for depositing into the Development Fund for Iraq proceeds from export sales of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas.It said provisions for depositing those proceeds shall be reviewed at the request of the Iraqi government, or no later than June 15, 2006.”Addressing these issues now will facilitate continued international support for Iraq’s security and will give the newly elected Iraqi government time to assume office, address constitutional questions and consolidate its authority before confronting issues such as those addressed in this resolution,” Bolton said.Britain’s UN envoy Emyr Jones Parry said Tuesday’s vote “underlines the support of the international community again for the sort of outcome we want in Iraq”.Iraq’s UN envoy Samir Sumaida’ie also hailed the mandate extension and sounded an upbeat note about his country’s future.”We will defeat the terrorists in Iraq and we will build a new country based on the principle of the rule of law, respect for human rights and equality for all,” he said.- Nampa-AFP