Russian President Vladimir Putin made a bid to end the rift over Iraq at the UN, as the world body opted to withdraw more staff from the country amid mounting insecurity. One of the war's sharpest critics, Putin steered clear of the attacks unleashed on Washington at the UN General Assembly this week and, unlike France and Germany, did not call for a faster handover of power to Iraqis. The moderate tone suggested Moscow wants to end the past split over the war as the United States pushes for a UN Security Council resolution that could get international troops to help keep the peace in Iraq.