The UN Security Council on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution to extend for a year the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti ( MINUSTAH).

The 15-nation Security Council decided to extend the mandate of MINUSTAH until Oct. 15, 2011, "with the intention of further renewal," the resolution said.

The Security Council also decided to "maintain the current mission overall force levels, which consists of a military component of up to 8,940 troops of all ranks and of a police component of up to 4,391 police," the resolution said.

"I would like to extend my gratitude and that of the government of Haiti as well as its people for this resolution just adopted by the council," said Leo Merores, Haitian ambassador to the UN, after the resolution passed.

The renewal of MINUSTAH, which would have expired Friday, holds particular significance because of Haiti's upcoming legislative and presidential elections on Nov. 28.

"It is therefore clear that the renewal of the mandate of the UN force, the mandate of MINUSTAH, will serve as a strong signal aimed at the people of Haiti to show to them that the Security Council, and beyond this council the whole international community stands side-by-side with Haiti to assist Haiti on the process that will take us to free, fair, and transparent as well as democratic elections," Merores told the Security Council.

Merores also thanked MINUSTAH staff, troop-contributing countries, and the Group of Friends for Haiti, a diplomatic coalition, for their continuing assistance on the ground in Haiti.

MINUSTAH has been working in Haiti since violence and upheaval broke out in the island country in 2004. Since the devastating January earthquake in Haiti, MINUSTAH has been engaged in efforts to help Haitians with reconstruction and recovery.