The Security Council extended the mandate of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Liberia for another year on Thursday, but began a drawdown in response to the country’s gradual recovery from a 14-year civil war. A unanimously adopted resolution said the more than 14,000 troops in the UNMIL force in the West African state should be reduced by 2,450 by the time the renewed mandate expires on Sept. 30, 2008. Full Story