U.N. to Fill Five of Security Council's 15 Seats

UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations votes on Monday to fill five coveted two-year seats on the 15-nation U.N. Security Council, choosing from among six candidates.

Council members are elected by secret ballot in the U.N. General Assembly, which has to approve contenders by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting. Each of the world body's 191 member-nations has one vote in the assembly.

Five seats are to open up on Jan. 1 with the departure of Algeria, Benin, Brazil, the Philippines and Romania.

Candidates are put forward by regional groupings, and this year just one of the five vacant seats is being contested.

Nicaragua and Peru are competing to succeed Brazil in a seat earmarked for Latin America, with both countries predicting victory.

In other regions, Ghana and the Congo Republic are unopposed for two African seats being vacated by Algeria and Benin; Slovakia is set to win the Eastern European slot opened up by Romania's departure; and Qatar is in line to win the Asian seat now held by the Philippines, diplomats said.

The Security Council, the world body's most powerful organ, is responsible for decisions on issues of war and peace, sanctions against nations and peacekeeping. Its decisions can be legally binding on all U.N. members.

The council has five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- who enjoy veto power and 10 members who serve for two-year terms.

The terms are staggered so that five of the nonpermanent seats change hands every year.

Current members Argentina, Denmark, Greece, Japan and Tanzania will remain on the council for another year as they began their two-year terms in January 2005.