Kathmandu, Jan 24: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has decided to extend the term of United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) by six more months.

According to Nepalnews, the UNSC meeting in New York held on Friday, agreed unanimously to extend the mandate of the UNMIN and endorsed its plans for further, gradual drawdown of the operation.

The UNMIN''s tenure has been extended for third time.

It was slated to expire on January 23. Now it has been extended till July 23.

The resolution directed UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon to submit a report on the implementation of this resolution and the implications for UNMIN with a view to further downsizing the force- no later than next April 30.

In a recent report on Nepal, Ban recommended that the number of UNMIN arms monitors remain at 73, as authorised when UNMIN was downsised last July, but said that most of the 18 remaining civilian posts filled by retired military officers be abolished.

On December 12, 2008 the Nepal government had sent a letter to the UN requesting it to extend UNMIN mandate.

The UNSC extended the tenure in view of the following considerations: some elements of the mandate were completed; monitoring and management of arms and armed personnel in accordance with 25 June, 2008 Agreement is ongoing; and the extension would support the peace process.

It has hailed the government''s decision to form a Special Committee to supervise, integrate and rehabilitate the Maoist army personnel, and called upon the government and political parties to work together to ensure effective working of the committee to integrate and rehabilitate Maoist combatants.

The UN has urged political parties to expedite the peace process, and to continue to work together in the spirit of cooperation, consensus and compromise to continue the transition to a durable long-term solution.

UNMIN started work in Nepal in January 2007 and its mandate was originally for one year. It was extended by six months in January 2008 because elections could not to held within 2006 as planned. (ANI)