UNITED NATIONS: The United States on Tuesday called on the UN General Assembly to oppose a draft resolution submitted by Brazil, Germany, India and Japan seeking enlargement of the Security Council because it did not enjoy broad-based support.

“We urge you to oppose this resolution and, should it come to a vote, to vote against it,” said Shirin Tahir-Kheli, a senior adviser to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The US diplomat joined a number of countries, including Canada, Uruguay, New Zealand and Russia which spoke against the G4 text, which calls for enlarging the council from 15 members to 25 by creating six new permanent seats without veto power and four non-permanent seats.

The G4 draft does not spell out which countries would secure the new Council seats but diplomats said the six new permanent seats would go to the G4 and two African countries yet to be selected.—AFP