Tuesday, November 8 2005 15:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The United States has pressed the UN Security Council to pass a resolution extending the mandate of the US-led military coalition in Iraq for at least a year after the Iraqis elect their first government.

Overcoming initial resistance from France and Russia for a six-month extension, the US said extending the mandate for a year would spare a new Iraqi government to be elected under the new constitution on December 15. The burden of having to approve the continued presence of foreign troops on their soil, US diplomats told The Washington Post.

The UN sought to extend the mandate 'far in advance of the Iraqi election' so it 'did not become an issue in the election', John R Bolton, US Ambassador to the UN said.

"We thought it was also important to show the continuing international commitment to progress in Iraq," Bolton said.

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

On May 31 the Security Council granted Iraq's request to keep the multinational force in Iraq "until the end of the political process." But top Iraqi officials have repeatedly said they want the US-led force to stay because the country's fledgling army and police forces are too weak to maintain internal order.