UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the multinational force in Iraq until the end of next year, and allowing for a review of that mandate at any time, no later than mid-June 2006, or for its termination, at the request of the Iraqi government.

    The Council, adopting the new resolution 1637 (2005) submitted by Denmark, Japan, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States, also decided to extend until Dec. 31, 2006 the arrangements for depositing proceeds from export sales of petroleum, petroleum products, and natural gas into the Development Fund of Iraq, as well as the arrangements for monitoring the Fund by the International Advisory and Monitoring Board.

    It also decided to review the deposit arrangements and the role of the International Advisory and Monitoring Board at the request of the Iraqi government no later than June 15, 2006.

    The Development Fund for Iraq was established on May 22, 2003 with the adoption of Security Council resolution 1483 (2003), by which the Council ended economic sanctions against Iraq. The Fund was set up to administer proceeds from the export sales of Iraq's oil, as well as funds remaining from the UN "oil-for-food" programand other assets seized from the former regime.

    Speaking after the vote, US representative John R. Bolton said he was pleased that the Council had been able to come together quickly and unanimously to respond to the Iraqi government's request for continued support.

    "The unanimous adoption of the resolution was a vivid demonstration of broad international support for a federal, democratic, pluralist and unified Iraq," he said.

    He urged the international community, especially the Arab world,to come forward and support the Iraqi people, saying support was critical at the current time, as it helped to consolidate Iraq's democratic progress and to demonstrate solidarity with the Iraqi people in the face of terror. Enditem