UNITED NATIONS?The Security Council unanimously approved a resolution Thursday extending the U.N. humanitarian program in Iraq and setting the stage for an overhaul of U.N. sanctions against Baghdad next year.

The resolution was drafted by the United States and Russia, which have feuded over policy toward Iraq for several years, and marked another sign of growing cooperation between Washington and Moscow, especially since the Sept. 11 attacks.

Disputes over Iraq usually left extension of the oil-for food humanitarian program to the last moment. But the U.S. Russian compromise enabled the council to approve a six month extension one day before the current phase expires at midnight Friday.

U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte called it “a very important step forward and another example of strong unity and consensus within the Security Council.”