Iraq to seek extension of US troop mandate - Zebari

BAGHDAD, Oct 30 (Reuters) Iraq plans to ask the United Nations Security Council to extend the mandate governing the presence of US-led forces in Iraq for another year, Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said today.

He said a continued foreign troop presence under the mandate, which expires on December 31, remained ''indispensable'' for Iraq's security despite the government's desire to expedite the training of its own security forces.

In an interview with Reuters, Zebari said there was no rift with the United States over the ultimate goals in Iraq despite the past week's tensions over how much control the Iraqi government has over its forces.

He also announced that Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al- Moualem had agreed to visit Baghdad, possibly in November. Iraq and the United States accuse Syria and Iran of supporting the insurgency and Zebari said the visit would be an ''acid test'' of Syria's attitude.

REUTERS SP RN1510