UNITED NATIONS (ANTARA News/AFP) - The UN Security Council Tuesday unanimously renewed the mandate of its mission in Afghanistan, known as UNAMA.

The mission`s mandate now continues until March 23, 2012. UNAMA is a civilian mission, including 1,500 people, 80 percent of them Afghans, charged with providing international support for the Afghan government.

They work in three key areas, reconstruction, development and fighting drug trafficking.

Zahir Tanin, Afghanistan`s UN envoy, stressed that continuing the UN mandate was "an important step towards our partnership with the United Nations and the international community."

"The United Nations offers a vital contribution in the efforts to achieve peace, security and stability in Afghanistan."(*)

(U.S008)

Editor: Ruslan Burhani
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