Iraqi PM says he will seek last renewal of multinational forces mandate

Iraq's prime minister said Monday his government will ask the United Nations to renew the mandate for the multinational force for one final time with its authorization to end in 2008. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki also said his government and the United States would reach a new security cooperation agreement by July 31, 2008 to replace the UN mandate. He made the announcement in a televised statement.