Five Countries Win Seats in Security Council

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, September 28, 2002

Five Countries Win Seats in Security Council

The General Assembly Friday voted Germany, Spain, Pakistan, Chile and Angola to the UN Security Council as nonpermanent members, none of them having faced opposition in their geographical regions.

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The General Assembly Friday voted Germany, Spain, Pakistan, Chile and Angola to the UN Security Council as nonpermanent members, none of them having faced opposition in their geographical regions.

All five take their seats as rotating members of the 15-nation Security Council in January for a two-year term, at a time the Iraqi controversy likely will be high on the agenda.

Germany already has voiced strong opposition to US military action. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder won re-election last week by campaigning against a war, saying his country would not join a conflict. His comments angered the United States.

Angola won 181 votes, the highest this time in the UN General Assembly, followed by Germany and Spain, tied at 180, Chile at 178and Pakistan at 172. One nation cast a secret-ballot vote for India.

To win election, a country must obtain a two-thirds majority ofthe delegations present and voting.

Germany, Spain, Pakistan, Chile and Angola replace Ireland, Norway, Colombia, Singapore and Mauritius.

The Security Council, which is responsible for the maintenance of peace and security in the world, has five permanent members, aswell as 10 elected members that rotate for two-year terms, five ofthem each year. They are selected by regional groups and then elected by the General Assembly, which rarely challenges the slateif there are no rival candidates.

Remaining on the council in 2003 will be Bulgaria, Cameroon, Guinea, Mexico and Syria along with the five permanent members with veto power -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

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