NEW YORK, April 4: Pakistan and 20 other UN member states have announced their candidacies for next month’s election to the new 47-member Human Rights Council that replaces the much discredited and defunct Human Rights Commission, UN officials said on Monday.

Algeria is the only African candidate in the run. The only Asian candidates are Bangladesh and Pakistan. Five countries have submitted their names for six Eastern European seats -— the Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Ukraine and Latvia. Five are seeking eight Latin American and Caribbean seats -— Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru and Nicaragua.

The elections are scheduled to take place on May 9.—Correspondent