IRAQ: UN EXTENDS US-LED FORCE'S MANDATE

"New York, 9 Nov. (AKI) - The mandate of the US-led multinational force in Iraq has been extended by a year by the UN Security Council, keeping the troops in the country until the end of 2006, unless the Iraqi government asks them to leave earlier. The council had previously decided that the force's mandate could be reviewed or terminated should Iraq request it, but would nonetheless expire once a permanent government is constitutionally elected by the end of 2005.

Under the new resolution, passed unanimously on Tuesday, the council also decided to extend until 31 December 2006 the arrangements for depositing proceeds from export sales of petroleum, petroleum products, and natural gas into the Development Fund of Iraq (DFI). This fund was established in May 2003 to administer proceeds from those commodities as well as funds remaining from the United Nations "Oil-for-Food" Programme and other assets seized from the former regime."
ADNKI