United Nations, Jul 26 (IANS/RIA Novosti): The UN Security Council(UNSC) has extended the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) by one year.

UNAMI, a political mission, was established by the 2003 UN Security Council Resolution 1500 on Iraqi government's request.

On Wednesday, the UNSC resolution welcomed the improvement in Iraq's security situation but stated that security challenges "still exist and that improvements need to be sustained through meaningful political dialogue and national unity".

UNAMI is mandated to advise and assist the government and people of Iraq on a number of fronts, including political dialogue and national reconciliation, the electoral process and the protection of human rights and judicial and legal reform.

The UN works in all the 18 governorates of Iraq and operates at the community, governorate and national levels.

National and international staff are deployed throughout the country and they work in partnership with their local, provincial and national counterparts.