New non-permanent members for UNSC

In a near unanimous election, five countries have joined the UN Security Council to work as new non-permanent members for two years.

In a near unanimous election, five countries have joined the UN Security Council to work as new non-permanent members for two years.

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Brazil, Nigeria, Gabon, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Lebanon will join the UN Security Council as non-permanent members to begin their work on Jan 1, 2010.

"It's going to be an even stronger Security Council next year. We have two large countries in Brazil and Nigeria who carry the weight of being a regional power," UK envoy to the UN, John Sawers told journalists after the results were announced.

"We have two countries in Lebanon and Bosnia who have been through conflict and can bring their own national experiences to the Security Council," he added.

The Council has 15 seats- 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent.

The latter are filled by regional group for a term of two years. The General Assembly elects five of these members each year. To be elected, a country must receive two-thirds majority in the 192-member General Assembly where members vote by secret ballot.