UN extends mandate of US-led force in Iraq

The council voted 15-0 "to extend the mandate of the multinational force, as set forth in Resolution 1546 until December 2006."

"The unanimous adoption of this resolution is a vivid demonstration of broad international support for a federal, democratic, pluralistic and unified Iraq," US ambassador to the UN John Bolton said after the vote.

"We thought the manner in which the resolution was adopted, in a constructive cooperative, rapid fashion was a good sign," he added.

In a concession to French and Russian objections, Washington had agreed that the council would review the mandate on June 15 of next year, diplomats said.

Britain's UN envoy Emyr Jones Parry said the vote "underlines the support of the international community again for the sort of outcome we want in Iraq."

The resolution, sponsored by the United States, Britain, Japan, Romania and Denmark, said the mandate of the force "shall be reviewed at the request of the government of Iraq, or no later than June 15, 2006, and declares that it will terminate this mandate earlier if requested by the government of Iraq."

It also decided to extend until December 31, 2006 arrangements for depositing into the Development Fund for Iraq proceeds from export sales of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas.

It said provisions for depositing those proceeds shall be reviewed at the request of the Iraqi government, or pledging to treat them humanely.

Adding fuel to the torture debate is last week's revelation by the Washington Post that since September 11, 2001 top al-Qaeda captives have been held in secret, CIA-run prisons in at least eight countries.

The Central Intelligence Agency, which is not part of the Defence Department, operates in secrecy, and the rules under which it works are not publicly known.

Vice President Dick Cheney has pressed Congress to exempt the CIA from legislation sponsored by Senator John McCain that would ban "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners in the detention of the US government".