The Security Council voted last night to give the United Nations an expanded political role in Iraq, promoting reconciliation between its rival factions and dialogue with neighboring countries.
The 15-nation council unanimously approved a US-British resolution boosting the responsibilities of the four-year-old UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, or UNAMI, whose existing mandate expired yesterday.
US and British officials have denied that their aim is to off-load Iraq's political problems onto the United Nations, then pull their forces out. But they want more UN involvement in recruiting nations in the region to help Iraq.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has already initiated a compact for Iraq with neighboring nations that sets benchmarks for Baghdad in exchange for debt forgiveness and other aid.
As architect of the resolution, US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said the unanimous approval showed "a new page had been turned in regard to the Security Council's role in Iraq," a reference to the council's refusal to approve the US-led invasion in 2003.
"This resolution underscores the widespread belief that what happens in Iraq has strategic implications not only for the region, but for the entire world," he said.
Mr Khalilzad said he hoped the world body would convene meetings among political factions "and propose bridging formulas," as well as make sure Baghdad's neighbors "assist the Iraqis in overcoming their difficulties."
The United Nations has had a muted political role in Iraq for the past few years. The resolution gives it a clearer mandate to lead efforts in uniting Iraq's feuding factions.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari made clear in a letter to Mr Ban, however, that any UN action needed "prior consent" of the Iraqi government.
Mr Ban, in answer to questions, emphasized "promoting and encouraging political facilitation and dialogue among different factions and ethnic religious groups" as UN duties.
Pakistani Ashraf Qazi ends his term in Iraq as chief UN envoy later this year, but a replacement has not been named. Khalilzad said Staffan De Mistura, a Swedish national who last served in Lebanon for the world body, was "the likely person to be selected" but the decision was up to Ban.