The United Nations today approved a British and American resolution to play a greater role in bringing peace to wartorn Iraq than at any time since 2003.

As a result of the vote at the Security Council today, the international body will expand its political and diplomatic presence in the unstable country, acting as peace-brokers between the warring Iraqi factions as well as taking part in discussions with neighbouring countries.

The unanimous vote represents a significant change in the UN mission, as the world body has only allowed a maximum of 65 staffers to reside in Iraq since a 2003 bombing killed 22 workers. That number could now rise to 95 by October.

Sir Emyr Jones Parry, the UK’s ambassador to the UN, confirmed that the British Government would specifically ask the international body to come to their assistance in Basra.

Iraq timeline: five years of conflict

From accusations that the weapons of mass destruction dossier had been sexed-up to withdrawal of British troops from Basra

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The security situation in the southern Iraqi city has deteriorated yet further in last few days - four British soldiers have been killed this week.

The latest two were named today as Lance Sergeant Chris Casey, 27, a married father-of-two from London, and Lance Corporal Kirk Redpath, 22, from Romford.

The servicemen, from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, were killed when an improvised explosive device was detonated next to their patrol yesterday morning.

A total of 168 British troops have now been killed in Iraq since the 2003 invasion.

Another UK soldier was killed today in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan as the British Army continued to suffer casualties in both conflicts.

With support for the invasion as an all time low in the US and the UK, as well as in Iraq, the UN will be asked to play a more prominent role in day-to-day negotiations. It is hoped that the independent body will be better placed to act as a neutral facilitator than either of the invading countries.

Hamid al-Bayati, Iraqi ambassador to the UN, endorsed the measure, saying: “Our view right from the beginning was that we should have an important role for the UN.

“They were hesitant after the terrorist attack against the UN headquarters in Baghdad. . . But we’ve been encouraging them to send more personnel and staff to Iraq and we hope that they will be able to do so after this resolution."

The original mandate for the four-year-old UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) had been due to expire today.

Its new powers will require UNAMI to “advise, support and assist” Iraqis on “advancing their inclusive, political dialogue and national reconciliation”. Until now its main responsibilities were to help run elections and monitor human rights.

The United States and Britain, who have the largest military forces in Iraq, co-sponsored the resolution. It was approved despite the high threat level in Baghdad.

Besides permitting the expansion of the UNAMI staff on the ground in Iraq, the resolution paves the way for a UN special envoy to advise, support and assist the Iraqi government in political, economic, electoral, legal, constitutional, refugee and human rights matters.

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