Britain, India push for UNSC reform, expansion

Britain and India made their case for reform of the United Nations Security Council Monday, arguing its credibility was at stake.

Britain and India made their case for reform of the United Nations Security Council Monday, arguing its credibility was at stake. Speaking after talks in New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and British premier Gordon Brown both called for India to have a seat at the UN's top table because of its growing economic clout and influence on the world stage.

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"I think that there is a broad agreement that international institutions, if they are to be credible, cannot ignore countries like India and China," Singh said, saying both were giving a "major stimulus" to the world economy.

"You cannot deal with global problems and global concerns if countries like India are not on the high table." Brown, who earlier Monday sketched out his vision for reform of world bodies, including the UN, World Bank, G8 and the International Monetary Fund, agreed.

At a news conference, he failed to answer a question about whether attempts at reform were doomed to failure without discussion of a similar role for a major Islamic country, and he admitted there could be opposition.

But Brown added:" A country of one billion people, that's the fastest growing economy, that's ready to assume its rightful place in the world should have its place on the UN Security Council as it reforms."