October 18, 2008	Saturday	Shawwal 18, 1429

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 17: The UN General Assembly on Friday elected Turkey, Mexico, Japan, Austria and Uganda as non-permanent members of the Security Council for a two-year term beginning in January next year.

They all secured the two-thirds majority vote required for election from the 192 members of the assembly. These countries will fill the five seats which will be vacated at the end of December.

Japan defeated Iran 158 to 32, winning the one seat allocated to Asian members. Indonesia currently holds the seat.

Turkey and Austria won two seats earmarked for the “Western Europe and Others” region by garnering 151 and 133 votes, respectively.

Existing non-permanent members for the category are Italy and Belgium.

Uganda was the sole candidate for the African seat, now held by South Africa, and Mexico was the only candidate for the Latin American seat, now occupied by Panama.Japan defeated Iran overwhelmingly in view of the confrontation between Iran and other UN members, especially the United States and European countries, over its nuclear programme.

Japan will sit on the Security Council for the 10th time, the most for any UN member. Japan’s previous council duty was in 2005-2006.

The General Assembly elects five countries each year to fill vacated seats.