UNGA to elect 5 new non-permanent UNSC members on Oct 18

The United Nations General Assembly will vote on Thursday to elect five new non-permanent members of the Security Council who will replace India, Colombia, Germany, Portugal and South Africa whose terms at the powerful UN body end in December this year.

India had secured a seat to the 15-nation Council for a two-year term after winning overwhelmingly in elections held in October 2010.

It had returned to the Council after a gap of 19 years.

It had held the rotating Presidency of the Council in August last year and will again serve as President in November before its term ends on December 31.

Last year Pakistan had also won a non-permanent seat at the Council and served 2012 alongside India at the UN high table.

Pakistan's term will end in 2013.

While the two South Asian rivals had conducive relations at the council for most part of the year, the two had bitter exchanges over Kashmir for a few days earlier this month.

Among the nations that are vying for a seat on the council are Argentina, Australia, Bhutan, Buenos Aires, Cambodia, Finland, Kigali, Luxembourg, Rwanda and South Korea.

Australia has already sat on the council four times while Finland has had two terms.

Luxembourg, Bhutan and Cambodia have never been on the council.

The countries must get 129 votes or two-thirds of the 193-nation General Assembly to be elected.

The new members of Council will begin their two-year terms on January 1 2013.

The other five non-permanent members at the Council are Azerbaijan, Guatemala, Morocco, Pakistan and Togo.

Their terms will end in December 2013.

The five permanent members - China, France, Russia, UK, US - have veto-wielding power.