UN extends Iraq mission for a yr

The mandate for the mission, created on August 14, 2003, expired yesterday.

The brief resolution was approved 15-0, "reaffirming that the United Nations should play a leading role in assisting the Iraqi people and government in the formation of institutions for representative government."

It also reaffirmed the "independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Iraq."

The UN mission in Iraq provides aid and advice to Iraqi authorities who will hold the country's national conference, scheduled to open on Sunday.

The conference is aimed at launching the political process ahead of general elections in January 2005.

"This was a necessary decision," said council member Munir Akram, Pakistan's UN ambassador.

"It was an indication of the continued commitment of the United Nations and of the Security Council to play a role in bringing peace and security to Iraq," he said.

"Of course, the exact nature of the role will have to be determined ... as circumstances permit.

"Obviously, this decision would have to be made by the secretary general (of the United Nations, Kofi Annan) with regard to the exact role the UN can play as the situation evolves," said Akram.

UN envoy to Iraq, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, will be in Iraq in time for the opening of the conference. The United Nations would not release his itinerary for security reasons. He replaces Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was among 22 people killed in a bombing of UN headquarters in Baghdad On August 19 of last year, prompting the world body to pull out of Iraq.

The UN mission to Iraq is currently operating out of Jordan.

UN officials are still negotiating with several countries for forces to secure UN staff in Iraq, Annan said earlier.

"As regards to the provision of forces, I believe the secretary general is in contact with a number of countries," Akram told journalists.

"Obviously it's a decision for each country to make according to its own evaluation of the situation."