UNITED NATIONS - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has asked the U.N. Security Council to extend the mandate of the 160,000-strong multinational force in Iraq, according to a letter circulated Monday.
In the letter, al-Maliki said a top priority of his government is to assume full responsibility for security and stability but it needs more time.
The United States circulated a draft resolution that would extend the mandate for one year starting on Dec. 31, with a review at the request of the Iraqi government or by June 15.
The draft, obtained Monday by the Associated Press, contains the same provision as past resolutions — a commitment that the council "will terminate this mandate earlier if requested by the government of Iraq."
Richard Grenell, spokesman for the U.S. Mission, said since the Iraqis requested the extension "we don't expect there to be any problems with it."
Al-Maliki's request for the one-year extension with a termination clause came as the U.S. administration stepped up diplomatic efforts to stabilize the country, certain to be a top item on the agenda when President Bush meets al-Maliki later this week in Amman, Jordan.
Sectarian violence in Iraq is at its worst level in the 3 1/2 years since a U.S.-led coalition invaded the country and toppled Saddam Hussein.
Bush's summit comes as members of the Iraq Study Group mull recommendations for changes in U.S. war policy that would help restore peace and security and enable the United States to reduce its contingent of 141,000 troops.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned Monday that Iraq is close to civil war.
"I think given the developments on the ground, unless something is done drastically and urgently to arrest the deteriorating situation, we could be there," Annan said. "In fact we are almost there."
Annan held a teleconference with members of the study panel Monday afternoon. Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown and top U.N. envoy Ashraf Qazi have also spoken to the group, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Al-Maliki gave no timetable for a takeover of military and security operations. But he said the government is committed to increasing the number of governorates fully under the control of Iraqi authorities until all 18 are under their control. This year, Iraqi forces took responsibility for security in the governorates of Al Muthanna and Dhi Qar.
"Establishing security and securing permanent stability are among the highest priorities of the Iraqi government's program to realize the desired peace and prosperity for the Iraqi people," al-Maliki said. "However, terrorists and forces hostile to democracy continue to target innocent citizens and the various state institutions."
The prime minister stressed that "security and stability in Iraq are the
responsibility of the Iraqi government."
Over the past 2 1/2 years, Iraqi security forces have acquired new responsibilities and experience, and have grown in size and ability which has been demonstrated "by their increased ability to assume full responsibility in the fields of security and defense," he said.
In September 2006, al-Maliki said the Ministry of Defense assumed operational command of the ground, naval and air force commands as well as two military divisions.
When Iraqis assume responsibility for security in new governorates, the multinational forces have agreed they will be present at Iraqi bases to provide support if requested, he said.
"We have agreed on three common goals: first, assumption by Iraq of recruiting, training, equipping and arming of Iraqi security forces; second, assumption by Iraq of command and control over Iraqi forces; and third, transferring responsibility for security to the government of Iraq," al-Maliki said.
He said a high-level working group has been formed to make recommendations on achieving these goals.
"It has also been agreed to work toward the Iraqi authorities' assuming the apprehension, detention and imprisonment tasks on the basis of an agreement to be reached between the government of Iraq and the multinational force," al-Maliki said.
"Hence, the Iraqi government requests the extension of the mandate of the multinational force ... for another 12 months."
Al-Maliki also requested one-year extensions for the International Advisory and Monitoring Board and the Development Fund for Iraqi until Dec. 31, 2007. The Security Council authorized the board in May 2003 to ensure the "transparent" operation of the Development Fund, which was set up to receive Iraq's oil revenue and frozen assets from Saddam's regime and is now controlled by the Iraqi government.
The prime minister also reiterated Iraq's call for the council to stop using the country's oil revenue to pay compensation to victims of the 1991 Gulf War and the salaries of U.N. weapons inspectors.
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