South African President Thabo Mbeki on Thursday reiterated a call for two African permanent seats, with full veto powers, at the United Nations Security Council. Answering questions in Parliament on the pending UN reforms, he said it was important for the continent to have the "permanent right of veto" at the United Nations, to enable the global body to fight poverty.

Mbeki's call comes a few months before world leaders will table the UN report on reforms during the UN General Assembly in New York in September.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is the international driving force behind efforts to make the world body more democratic and more reflective of modern geopolitics.

South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya are vying for what many argue are long-overdue seats for developing countries at the Security Council.

Currently only the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia have permanent seats and veto powers.

The UN Security Council was created based on the post-World WarII scenario, which many argue has been overtaken by international events and global developments.

Source: Xinhua