WASHINGTON, July 18 (Xinhua) -- The United States is willing to consider a new United Nations mandate on Iraq so that more countries will take part in an international stabilization force in the country, the State Department said.

　　"We're open to the prospect and we are talking about it with other people," spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters.

　　But he insisted that the UN Security Council Resolution 1483 has already provided sufficient authority or cover for other countries to send stabilization forces to Iraq.

　　"We appreciate the interest that a lot of people have in this but I would point out that Resolution 1483 already encourages people to participate in stabilization with sufficient authority for many nations already who want to participate," Boucher said.

　　"There are some who have expressed a desire for more of a mandate and that has been a matter of discussion," he said, adding that "we'll see where discussions go from there."

　　Countries like India and France have made it clear that it is impossible for them to send troops to Iraq under the current UN mandate. End