21.   Annan said he would complete his studies before the council must consider whether to extend the mandate again in May.

22.   Any decision to extend the mandate would be made by the U.N. Security Council.

23.   As a permanent Security Council member, China could veto a resolution extending the mandate of the U.N. mission.

24.   Assuming the mandate is extended, the United Nations plans to withdraw its troops by February when a government of national unity is to take power.

25.   Bizimungu also told Carter he would agree to extend the mandate of U.N. peacekeepers in Rwanda, a decision designed to encourage the refugees to go home.

26.   Carter said Rwandan President Pasteur Bizimungu had given him approval to consult with the United Nations on extending the mandate for U.N. peacekeepers in Rwanda.

27.   Council members were meeting for a formal vote to extend the mandate.

28.   Diplomats said the Security Council was delaying a vote on extending the mandate pending further assessments on UNITA compliance.

29.   Facing the threat of a Chinese veto, the United States on Wednesday postponed a vote on extending the mandate for the U.N. peacekeeping force in Haiti.

30.   Georgia and its breakaway province Abkhazia agreed to extend the mandate of Russian peacekeepers on their border, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman announced Tuesday.