United Nations ? The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to extend the mandate of the 160,000-strong multinational force in Iraq for one year, acting quickly ahead of a key meeting between U.S. and Iraqi leaders aimed at halting escalating violence in the country and paving the way for a reduction of American troops.

The council responded to a request from Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who said a top government priority is to assume full responsibility for security and stability throughout the country but that it needs more time.

Al-Maliki, who was scheduled to meet with President Bush on Thursday in Amman, Jordan, gave no timetable for a takeover of military and security operations. But the Iraqi prime minister said the government is committed to putting all 18 provinces under Iraqi control – up from the two now under Iraqi authority.

The resolution, drafted by the United States, extends the mandate of the multinational force for one year starting on Dec. 31 and authorizes a review of the mandate at the request of the Iraqi government or by June 15.

U.S. deaths in Iraq

As of Tuesday, at least 2,881 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.