Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - Jordan's foreign ministry says the kingdom has presented a request to the United Nations seeking candidacy for a Security Council seat that Saudi Arabia had turned down.
The Saudis' rejection of the seat _ just 24 hours after it was elected _ had stunned the world organization.
According to the Jordanian ministry statement Monday, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh telephoned U.N. chief Ban Ki-Moon late Sunday after sending Jordan's "official request" in writing.
The General Assembly, which voted last month to give Riyadh the seat traditionally reserved for an Arab nation on the council, must formally approve Jordan as a replacement candidate. It's likely to be the only candidate, so Jordan's election is virtually assured.
Since joining the world body in 1955, Jordan has held the seat twice before.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
