UN votes to extend Iraqi mission for a year

Even though Iraqi assistance mission is yet to start working on the ground, UNSC has voted unanimously to extend it for another year.

The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to extend the year-old Iraqi assistance mission for another 12 months even though it is yet to start working on the ground.

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The rising violence leading to uncertain security situation has prevented the international staff from moving into Iraq where insurgents groups consider UN to be a collaborator of the United States.

The international staff is at present based in Jordanian capital of Amman. Whether the mission would be able to play a leading role in the reconstruction of Iraq and organization of elections to establish democratically government by end of next year would depend on how the security situation develops.

The resolution adopted by the 15-member Council in June which gave the United Nations the leading role made its presence in Iraq dependent on the security situation, stipulating that the mission be expanded only if circumstances permit.

As things stand now, the circumstances do not permit, diplomats said.

Meanwhile, Secretary-General Kofi Annan's newly appointed envoy in Iraq, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi is said to be on his way to Baghdad though the United Nations refused to give his current whereabouts, citing security concerns.

But sources said he was currently in Amman and is likely to go Baghdad for the three-day conference of political, religious and civic leaders which begins Sunday. He will be accompanied by a small staff, the UN said but did not give any number. It is not clear how long he would stay in Baghdad.