US pushes UN for year-long extension of Iraq mandate

WASHINGTON – The United States has urged the UN Security Council to extend the mandate of the US-led forces in Iraq for at least a year after the Iraqis elect their first government, The Washington Post said yesterday.

Overcoming resistance from France and Russia for a six-month extension, the US said extending the mandate for a year would spare a new Iraqi government – to be elected under the new constitution on December 15 – the burden of having to approve the continued presence of foreign troops on their soil, US diplomats told the daily. Washington also hopes the extension would encourage US coalition partners to remain in Iraq and avoid a potentially tough battle in the Security Council on the mandate issue next year after the Iraqi government takes power.The US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, told The Washington Post by telephone on Monday that the US sought to extend the mandate “far in advance of the Iraqi election” so “it didn’t become an issue in the election.””We thought it was also important to show the continuing international commitment to progress in Iraq,” Bolton added.”We expect this to be voted tomorrow (Tuesday).I don’t know anybody who is going to vote against it,” he added referring to the resolution, co-sponsored by the US, Britain, Denmark, Romania and Japan.In a concession to French and Russian objections, the US agreed that the council would review the mandate on June 15 of next year.On May 31 the Security Council granted Iraq’s request to keep the multinational force in Iraq “until the end of the political process.”But 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 US move to extend the Iraq mandate followed an announcement Monday by the Pentagon of a rotation of forces that calls for the deployment of 92 000 troops in Iraq from mid-2006 to mid-2008.They will replace a US force in Iraq that has fluctuated from a baseline of about 138 000 US troops.Currently about 160 000 US troops are in the country as part of a temporary buildup for the December 15 elections.- Nampa-AFPWashington also hopes the extension would encourage US coalition partners to remain in Iraq and avoid a potentially tough battle in the Security Council on the mandate issue next year after the Iraqi government takes power.The US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, told The Washington Post by telephone on Monday that the US sought to extend the mandate “far in advance of the Iraqi election” so “it didn’t become an issue in the election.””We thought it was also important to show the continuing international commitment to progress in Iraq,” Bolton added.”We expect this to be voted tomorrow (Tuesday).I don’t know anybody who is going to vote against it,” he added referring to the resolution, co-sponsored by the US, Britain, Denmark, Romania and Japan.In a concession to French and Russian objections, the US agreed that the council would review the mandate on June 15 of next year.On May 31 the Security Council granted Iraq’s request to keep the multinational force in Iraq “until the end of the political process.”But 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 US move to extend the Iraq mandate followed an announcement Monday by the Pentagon of a rotation of forces that calls for the deployment of 92 000 troops in Iraq from mid-2006 to mid-2008.They will replace a US force in Iraq that has fluctuated from a baseline of about 138 000 US troops.Currently about 160 000 US troops are in the country as part of a temporary buildup for the December 15 elections.- Nampa-AFP