The U.N. General Assembly will convene on Monday for the first round of debate on reforming the powerful Security Council, with candidates for permanent seats in that body and their opponents slugging it out, reported dpa today. The 191-nation assembly was called to discuss a hotly disputed draft resolution presented by Germany, Japan, India and Brazil - known as G4 - the aspirants for Security Council permanent membership. There are currently five permanent members: the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain, and 10 countries elected on two-year terms. All five countries hold veto authority. The council's responsibilities include maintaining peace and security around the world, which authorize it to order use of force. The G4 has called for enlarging the council from 15 to 25 members, with the addition of six new permanent members without veto power and four elected for two-year terms. Two African countries would be offered permanent seats along with G4. The African Union, a bloc of 53 countries, wants to enlarge the council to 26, with six permanent members with veto power and five on short-term tenure. --More 0042 Local Time 2142 GMT
